What Do The Critics Say?

"Bee Movie has a little bit of something for everyone. It's loaded with action and sight gags for the kids and enough adult humor to keep the grownups happy." Roger Tennis CINEMACLIPS "The movie's more than cute, funny, and brisk enough to move families in and out of the multiplex in mass quantities, like the social insects we are." Dana Stevens SLATE "After Shrek the Third's flatulence jokes, the return of that Seinfeldian wit brings animation up a level." Kyle Smith NEW YORK POST "The most genuinely apian aspect of Bee Movie is that it spends a lot of its running time buzzing happily around, sniffing out fresh jokes wherever they may bloom." A.O. Scott NEW YORK TIMES "The whole thing's pretty cute and breezy." Jonathan Rosenbaum CHICAGO READER "I was expecting bad things from this movie, perhaps because all the media hype surrounding it was giving me a dull ache in my frontal lobe, but I surprised myself by spurting out laughter, often with the crowd, but sometimes in utter silence. Bee Movie turns out to be a delightful movie, one for the kids, but with enough humour, some of it subtle, to keep you interested. The animation is so appealing that everything seems edible. Seinfeld, to me, is one of the masters of comedy without vulgarity." 20/20 FILMSIGHT

"One of the better animated films of the year, an enjoyable and consistently clever ride courtesy of the very original comic viewpoint of the man who made arguably the best sitcom of all time." Brian Tallerico THE DEADBOLT "This is a beautifully animated, cleverly executed, warm and funny adventure." Richard Roeper EBERT & ROEPER "This is an incredibly witty film." Mike McGranaghan AISLE SEAT "An often-inspired smart comedy for kids, and a vintage Seinfeld laugh for adults." Roger Moore ORLANDO SENTINEL "A big-screen, 90-minute Saturday morning cartoon that's really for grown-ups, but happens to be relatively safe and thoroughly entertaining for kids, too." Josh Hurst CHRISTIANITY TODAY "The film is nutty, ecological, antically funny, and moving, all at the same time." Owen Gleiberman ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY "Absurd enough to delight kids, overstuffed with verbal and visual in-jokes for grownups, it's a 90-minute joyride that barely pauses for breath." Colin Covert MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

The Inside Story There’s an adage in Hollywood that has become accepted as gospel: it’s who you know. The genesis of "Bee movie" is proof positive of this maxim although, in this particular instance, it could be stretched to "It’s not only who you know, it’s who they know; you know?" For more than a decade, Jeffrey Katzenberg ("The Prince of Egypt" and "Shark Tale"), the head of DreamWorks Animation, has been trying to lure comic icon Jerry Seinfeld, who triumphed as a stand-up comedian and co-creator and star of the acclaimed sitcom "Seinfeld", into the world of feature animation. Until a fateful dinner took place. Seinfeld was having dinner with Spielberg in the Hamptons. At one point in the evening, there was an unexpected lull in the conversation, and to fill the silence Seinfeld nervously blurted out an extemporaneous idea about making a movie about bees, which he would call "Bee movie", a riff on the less than flattering term for low-budget movies from Hollywood’s golden era. Spielberg was immediately taken with the title and telephoned Katzenberg, his DreamWorks partner. The next morning, Katzenberg contacted Seinfeld to say that he wanted to move forward with "Bee movie". "And the next thing I knew, well, they had me doing it," Seinfeld recalls. "But I really didn’t have an idea for the movie. All I had was the title. Luckily, it worked out." Seinfeld says he has always been fascinated by the bee world. "I find the hive very interesting. I find their social hierarchy very interesting, their work process, their geometry. Honey is a pretty amazing product for a bug, you know? So when it came up, it seemed like something that I could have fun with, and that's the way it turned out." For Seinfeld, "Bee Movie" would explore the hidden lives of these somewhat misunderstood insects. The hook, however, would be the honey. "If you want to tell a story about bees," says Seinfeld, "what are you going to talk about? And I thought, the big thing that seems to be going on is that humans are stealing their honey. They work so hard to make this stuff, and we just take it without them really knowing." Once "Bee Movie" was given the go-ahead, Seinfeld received what could be described as an advanced placement course in 'Animation 101' from Katzenberg, who served as an advisor throughout the film’s production. "Bee Movie" was no 'write and run' project for Seinfeld. His customary commitment to excellence was evident in every aspect of his first animated feature in much the same way as his comic vision had shaped every facet of his landmark television series. Throughout the four year process Seinfeld wore three hats: writer, producer and lead actor. For CG animation veteran and film director Simon J Smith, Seinfeld’s idea of bringing together the worlds of bees and humans struck him as unconventional, to say the least. So what was his first thought? "This is insane. This is a mad idea," Smith recalls. "And I mean that in the best sense because, as you read through the story and watch the character grow, it’s quite fantastic." "Accomplished animation director Steve Hickner found the marriage of Seinfeld and bees to be an inspired idea as well."Jerry is the king of observational comedy," Hickner says. "I think his comedy is really good at taking the foibles and idiosyncrasies of people and presenting them in such a fresh way that it makes us all laugh. Jerry is definitely a part of Barry Benson. Barry shows all the different sides of Jerry Seinfeld that we've never gotten to see before." For producer Christina Steinberg, having Seinfeld as the 'captain of the ship' was the gift that kept on giving. "I think there may have been a moment when Jerry thought he would just turn over the script to us and we would make the movie and he would show up at the premiere," she says. "And then he ended up living at the studio and being involved every day for at least eight hours a day." Producer Steinberg had never worked with either director before and says, "We've obviously become quite close over the years making this, and it’s been a really great experience with them. Steve is sort of the veteran animator who has grown up at DreamWorks and is a wonderful storyteller. Simon is a great filmmaker. He has a great visual eye and style, plus a great sense of comedy. He’s wonderful with the animators and he loves to perform for them. I think they’re perfect complements." "We became like this tiny pod of people who did everything together. It was great and we got along great, and we were able to create a lot of great ideas. It's the thing I'll miss the most," Seinfeld said, "this group that we’ve built." Another fantastic group is those who were cast in the voice roles. Having always been a fan of Renée Zellweger, Seinfeld immediately thought of her for the part of Vanessa. "Renée can play dramatic things and funny things and silly things and subtle things. She has an amazing skill and talent. I had met her a couple of times and I just wanted her to play this part. She's got this great voice and, in an animated movie, the voice is everything," Seinfeld says. Zellweger’s enthusiasm for "Bee Movie" stemmed from several factors: the opportunity to work with Seinfeld, the creative freedom inherent in the medium and the amount of laughter that was sure to be a part of the job. "The only restrictions in animation are in the imaginations of the creators. There’s an excitement in the recording session, an appreciation for what's unfolding," she notes. "With someone like Renée as the voice of Vanessa, she seems to be able to convey the slightest nuance with her voice, it goes a long way toward helping us believe that this woman would be the kind of human who would enjoy a friendship with a bee. She’s bright, warm, funny, likeable and kind and you hear every note when she speaks," says director Smith. Barry’s best friend Adam Flayman, is voiced by Seinfeld's friend, two time Tony Award winner, Matthew Broderick. "I love watching animated films, and it’s so nice to be a part of one because I know it will be around and be something children can watch, like my kid. They last, and they’re important to children. When I was a kid I loved Bugs Bunny, you know? I grew up on that type of cartoon, which I also loved, and it's just fun to be involved in animation," Broderick said. "It was amazing, the magic that we got on this movie by casting Matthew Broderick, which was just a coincidence," says director Smith. "Matthew’s a friend of mine, and he’s a very funny guy with a very dry, subtle kind of delivery, which I love," says Seinfeld. "I hadn’t really thought much of doing movies, really. So I thought this was an opportunity where we could work together." Every movie that has a best friend must also have an adversary. Enter the unctuous mouth of the South lawyer Layton T Montgomery, who hasn’t lost a case in 35 years of practice and is played by the all-around good ol' boy John Goodman. "Layton’s the classic, slightly corrupt Southern lawyer who likes to talk about goading and uses words like wo-man," Seinfeld laughs. "We wanted a nice, big voice for Layton," says Smith. "To play someone like Layton T Montgomery, even to give him a voice, is something that makes an actor’s juices flow," enthuses Goodman. "To say that recording sessions were fun is kind of an understatement." When Seinfeld asked superstar comedian and filmmaker Chris Rock to provide the voice for Mooseblood the mosquito, the size of the part immediately changed. "Chris and I ad-libbed most of the scenes that we did together and he made up this whole story about how hard it is for mosquitoes to get mosquito girls because they’re more interested in dragonflies and moths and always trying to trade up. They don’t want to be with a mosquito," Seinfeld explained. "When Jerry called, I was glad to be able to work with him. He’s like, one of the eight great comedians in the world, and we’ve never really worked together on anything. The original Mooseblood was a smaller part," says Rock. "Luckily for me, I read with Jerry." Steinberg recalls, "They just started ad-libbing, and this two-line role turned into something like a fifteen line role with a repeat performance at the end of the movie because we all fell in love with his character." When it came to Vanessa's tennis partner Ken, Seinfeld always has Patrick Warburton in mind. "I'm really very impressed by the animation," he says. "We've come to expect that higher level from DreamWorks, and I expected nothing less than what I saw. This is DreamWorks that we're talking about here. It's not just somebody out there scribbling stuff up. They’ve got animation down to a science. It's fun and it's whimsical, creative and very colourful." Barry 'bee parents', Martin and Janet Benson, are voiced by Oscar winners Barry Levinson ("Rain Man") and Kathy Bates ("Misery"). Hickner explained, "They want him to work in the honey field and be a success, because the expectation is that, as a bee, when you’re out of college, that's what they do; they work in the honey field. And so, they hoped he'd be a good stirrer like his father." Seinfeld and his team filled the other roles with an amazing array of talents, all of whom share a flare for comedy. They included legendary veteran of film and theatre Rip Torn as the leader of the 'Top Gun' squad of 'pollen jocks', Lou Lo Duca; Emmy winner Megan Mullally as Trudy, the Honex tour guide who gives a whole new depth of meaning to the word 'bubbly' and, popular comic character actor Larry Miller as Dean Buzzwell, the head of Winger University. Synopsis

Recent college graduate, young bee Barry B Benson wants more out of life than the inevitable career that awaits him and every other worker in New Hive City: a job for life at Honex, producing honey. Barry jumps at the chance to venture out of the hive, and soon encounters a world beyond his wildest dreams. When Barry inadvertently meets a spirited Manhattan florist named Vanessa. When she saves him from certain death he feels compelled to thank her. By doing so, Barry breaks one of the cardinal rules of beedom: never talk to a human. A friendship quickly develops, and Barry gets a crash course in the ways of the human race. But when he discovers that anyone can buy honey right off the grocery store shelf, he is shocked. Human's have been stealing the bee's unique creation and making money from it. Barry decides to right this injustice, by going to court and suing the human race.

The Verdict "Having seen "Bee Movie" on two occassions already, I have come to the conclussion that it isn't for the real little kids. That isn't to say that "Bee Movie" isn't a damn good movie with wide appeal, but at both sessions it became painfully obvious that the film goes way over the heads of ankle biters who were restless, rowdy and for everyone else trying to enjoy the film, a bloody pain in the arse! The dialogue and humor in "Bee Movie" comes in a language totally unfamiliar to them, so keep that in mind mums and dads if you want to totally enjoy the delightful experience of this brightly colorful animated film with a superb voice cast and delicious characters. Jerry Seinfeld will capture your heart as Barry B Benson. Very recommended. 4 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "BEE MOVIE" stars .......
Golden Globe winner Jerry Seinfeld ["The Thing About My Folks" and TV'S "Seinfeld"]; 2005 Hollywood Film Festival Supporting Actor of the Year Matthew Broderick ["You Can Count On Me", "The Stepford Wives", "The Producers" and "Deck The Halls"]; 2005 New York VisionFest Outstanding Achievement Award winner Patrick Warburton ["Hoodwinked", "Chicken Little", "Open Season" and "Underdog"]; Academy Award winner Kathy Bates ["Charlotte's Web", "The Golden Compass" and "P.S. I Love You"]; Three time EMMY Award winner Chris Rock ["Beverly Hills Cop II", "Lethal Weapon 4", "Nurse Betty" and "Madagascar"] and Academy Award winner Renée Zellweger ["Chicago", "Cold Mountain", "Cinderella Man" and "Miss Potter"] as Vanessa Bloome.
"BEE MOVIE" was .......
directed by 2001 Video Premiere Award winner Steve Hickner ["The Prince of Egypt"] and Simon J Smith ["Shrek 3-D" and "Far Far Away Idol"]; art direction by Christophe Lautrette ["Bee Movie"]; costume design by Jane Poole ["Over the Hedge" and "Flushed Away"]; production design by 2005 Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design Award winner Alex McDowell ["Minority Report", "The Cat In The Hat" and "The Terminal"]; edited by Nick Fletcher ["An American Tail: Fievel Goes West", "We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story" and "The Prince Of Egypt"]; original music by 2005 European Film Awards Best Composer Rupert Gregson-Williams ["Plots with a View", "Hotel Rwanda", "Over the Hedge" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"]; produced by Jerry Seinfeld ["Comedian"] and Christina Steinberg ["v", "The Kid" and "National Treasure"]. Who's Who?

Jerry Seinfeld Renée Zellweger Matthew Broderick Patrick Warburton John Goodman Chris Rock Kathy Bates Barry Levinson Larry King Ray Liotta Sting Oprah Winfrey Larry Miller Megan Mullally Rip Torn Michael Richards Mario Joyner Jim Cummings

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Barry B Benson Vanessa Bloome Adam Flayman Ken Layton T Montgomery Mooseblood Janet Benson Martin Benson Bee Larry King Ray Liotta Sting Judge Bumbleton Buzzwell Trudy Lou Lo Duca Bud Ditchwater Jackson Title Narrator/Graduation Announcer

Run Time 89 minutes Rated G [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Dreamworks Animation - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.