Touted as Jerry Seinfeld's first major project since the 1998 end of his long-running eponymous TV series, 2007's computer-animated BEE MOVIE stars the popular comedian as the voice of Barry B. Benson, a young bee eager to explore the world outside of his hive. As he discovers how people live in New York City, he befriends a human florist, Vanessa Bloome (Renee Zellweger), and becomes outraged at the selling of honey, leading to a lawsuit and, of course, plenty of Seinfeldian misadventures.
Helmed by directors Steve Hickner (THE PRINCE OF EGYPT) and Simon J. Smith (a member of the SHREK creative team), BEE MOVIE lightens Seinfeld's notoriously stinging humor for a family audience, while staying true to its inherent New York-bred quirkiness. This leaves room for the film to feature impressive (if anatomically incorrect) bug-oriented CGI animation and a solid supporting cast that includes Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock, and Ray Liotta (who plays a honey-peddling animated version of himself). Although it inhabits some of the same insect-populated territory as A BUG's LIFE and ANTZ, BEE MOVIE also nods to THE GRADUATE (admittedly a Seinfeld favorite) in its restless protagonist, resulting in a playful and thoroughly entertaining film that even manages to work an environmental message into its colorful palette.
Theatrical Release - NOVEMBER 2, 2007
HD DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
Subtitles - English, French, Spanish - Optional
Closed Captioned - English
Additional Release Material:
Commentaries - 1. Jerry & Filmmaker
Additional Scenes - (9)
Featurettes - 1. THE ANIMATORS' CORNER
2. BARRY'S TRIVIA TRACK
3. MY MENUS
4. THE WORLD OF BEES
5. BUILD A BEE AVATAR
6. INSIDE THE HIVE: THE CAST OF BEE MOVIE HD
7. JERRY'S FLIGHT OVER CANNES
8. MEET BARRY B. BENSON
9. TECH OF BEE MOVIE HD
10. JERRY'S NBEEC TV JUNIORS
11. DREAMWORKS ANIMATION VIDEO JUKEBOX
12. DWA KIDS
Music Videos - 1. We Got The Bee
Trailers - (3)
Voice
Alan Arkin: American Actor/Director
Voice
Barry Levinson: Director/Screenwriter/Producer, DINER (1982)
Voice
Chris Rock: American Actor/Comedian, THE CHRIS ROCK SHOW
Voice
Colin Quinn: AMERICAN SUPPORTING ACTOR
Voice
Jerry Seinfeld: American Comedian/Actor
Voice
John Goodman: American Film/TV Actor
Voice
Kathy Bates: Oscar winning actress, MISERY
Voice
Larry King: Talk show host
Voice
Matthew Broderick: American Actor, FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986)
Voice
Oprah Winfrey: Talk Show Hostess/Actress
Voice
Renée Zellweger: American Actress, NURSE BETTY (2000)
Voice
Rip Torn: American Actor/Director
Voice
Ray Liotta: American Actor
Review 1:
"BEE MOVIE is agreeably skewed fun....The images have a spangly clarity -- they make New York look new again..." -- Grade: A-
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.79 11/09/2007
Review 2:
3 stars out of 5 -- "There are child-friendly puns, but it's also crammed with Seinfeld's trademark observational humour."
Source: Empire
p.58 01/01/2008
Review 3:
"At its heart is a sweet moral message about everyone pulling together, about doing even the smallest job to the best of your ability..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.60 01/01/2008
Review 4:
4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] magnificently entertaining adventure....With a host of subtle jokes, references and cameos..."
Source: Ultimate DVD
p.85 05/01/2008