STEVE HICKNER, SIMON J. SMITH

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBB. 

USA, 2007.  DreamWorks Animation, Columbus 81 Productions, Pacific Data Images.  Screenplay by Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Feresten, Barry Marder, Andy Robin, additional screenplay material by Chuck Martin, Tom Papa.  Produced by Jerry Seinfeld, Christina Steinberg.  Music by Rupert Gregson-Williams.  Production Design by Alex McDowell.  Costume Design by Jane Poole.  Film Editing by Nick Fletcher.  Golden Globe Awards 2007.  

Animated films anthropomorphizing insects or inanimate objects have become as formulaic and predictable as romantic comedies, and this one is no exception.  Jerry Seinfeld, who also co-wrote and co-produced, plays the member of a bumblebee hive who just wants to get out and see the world. He sneaks into a group of gung-ho bee jocks (the ones responsible for pollination) and ends up in the kitchen of a human woman (Renee Zellweger) with whom he strikes up a friendship (which is a no-no, you’re NEVER supposed to talk to the humans, particularly when your cousin lost his life to an issue of Italian Vogue). It is in his relationship with Zellweger that Seinfeld discovers the horrific fact that humans have been making bees work on farms in order to take their honey and sell it, a reality that inspires so much anger in him that he takes honey producers to court. Lots of fun gags and beautiful animation, but the sickening cuteness of the story will drive some audience members out of their minds. Kids will love it, though.