Bee Movie (2007)
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The story
Barry B. Benson, an idealistic honey bee graduate who can talk to humans, is about to enter the hive's honey-making workforce. After getting lost in a storm in Manhattan, he ends up in the apartment of a human florist named Vanessa Bloome. Upon discovering that humans have been stealing and eating the bees' honey for centuries, Barry decides to sue the human race to put an end to the exploitation of his people. With Vanessa's help, he takes his case to court, sparking a massive legal battle that draws attention from both the bee community and the human world.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Barry B. Benson, an idealistic honey bee who can talk to humans, discovers that humans have been stealing and eating the bees' honey for centuries. He teams up with a human florist, Vanessa Bloome, to sue the human race. The trial becomes a sensation, but a legal complication leads to a shortage of honey, causing all bees to lose their jobs and flowers to begin dying. Barry and Vanessa travel to a parade in Pasadena to rescue the last remaining flowers and transport them to the bees. After a tense flight where Barry must negotiate with pilots, they successfully deliver the flowers. Barry joins the Pollen Jocks to repollinate the world, and later opens a law firm, 'Insects at Law', with Vanessa to handle disputes between animals and humans.
- First release year
- 2007
- Runtime (minutes)
- 91
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Simon J. Smith; Steve Hickner
- Writers
- Jerry Seinfeld · writer; Spike Feresten · writer; Barry Marder · writer; Andy Robin · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jerry Seinfeld · Barry B. Benson; Renée Zellweger · Vanessa Bloome; Matthew Broderick · Adam Flayman; John Goodman · Layton T. Montgomery; Patrick Warburton · Ken; Barry Levinson · Martin B. Benson, Barry's father; Kathy Bates · Janet B. Benson, Barry's mother; Rip Torn · Pollen Jocks General Lou Lo Duca
- Genres
- animated; satirical comedy
- Themes
- environmentalism; exploitation; friendship
- Tone and mood
- satirical; whimsical
- Setting
- Manhattan and Pasadena, California.
- Premise and plot tags
- anthropomorphic; legal drama; buddy comedy
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its humor and voice cast but criticized its plot and screenplay. It has gained a cult following since its release, partly driven by internet memes.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 54 · scale: 100 · review count: 34
- Awards and nominations
- Annie Awards · nomination · 35th · nominated; Golden Globe Awards · Best Animated Feature Film · 65th · nominated; Critics' Choice Awards · Best Animated Feature · 13th · nominated
- Production trivia
- The film's set in New York was chosen by Seinfeld because it was 'the Tigris and Euphrates of comedy'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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