Bee Movie

Movies like “The Incredibles,” “Toy Story,” Shrek,” and “Finding Nemo” set the bar pretty high for animated films. Unfortunately, “Bee Movie” doesn’t measure up. Barry (voiced by Jerry Seinfeld) and his friend Adam (Matthew Broderick) are ready to join the honey production assembly line. The only job Barry finds attractive is being a Pollen Jock because they get to leave the hive. When Barry is allowed to leave the hive with the Pollen Jocks for a trial run, his exploration takes him to Vanessa (Rene Zellweger), a florist who saves him from being swatted. Because Barry can talk, a friendship develops. Then Barry discovers that humans steal honey from bees and the movie shifts to the courtroom. The movie is full of cameos: Sting, Larry King, Ray Liotta and celebrity voices: Oprah as the judge, John Goodman as the defense attorney, Chris Rock as a mosquito. Does this make a difference? Not really. Six-year-olds will be entertained, but it’s slow going for anyone older unless, of course, you don’t expect much from a movie. It’s hard to imagine “Bee Movie” generating anything other than mediocre word of mouth. (10/2/07)