Prognosis negative
What is the deal
with Bee Movie? It has bees, it is a movie, but it isn’t a B movie. More like a
C, which makes sense because people will see it, no matter what.
Then they’ll ask: "Gee, how can it be that a bee becomes a C?"
Not even Jerry Seinfeld can come up with a snappy play on words to answer that.
Bee Movie is Seinfeld’s first feature film and, like his eponymous sitcom, is all about nothing. The movie is colorfully animated but comically inert, an idea that Jerry, George and Kramer might concoct on the couch and Elaine would crush. Seinfeld is a master of television but movies aren’t his domain.
See Friday's Floridian for a full review that would make Newman smile.
Steve Persall is the movie critic for the St. Petersburg Times. He was conceived behind a drive-in movie theater his father operated and raised in projection booths and concession stands. He doesn't care how you did it up north.
Steve,
Thanks for saying in the "Weekend" section what seems to be taboo...Jerry has lost his funny. Saying it appears to be the emperors new clothes, since Jerry is in full publicity mode and Dave and Oprah just gush. Seeing those TV Juniors made me think back to that moment when another "funnyman," Chevy Chase appeared so out of touch.Those spots are as uncomfortably bad as Chase's brief late night show, albeit an hour and twenty nine minutes shorter.
Posted by: Kennedy | November 01, 2007 at 06:31 AM
That's me, breaking taboos one washed-up stand-up at a time. Your last line, Kennedy, was funnier than all TV Juniors combined.
Posted by: Steve | November 01, 2007 at 07:59 AM
What made Seinfeld (the show) great wasn't just Jerry but a great cast who worked well off of each other. That picture where they were posed like the cover of Meet the Beatles wasn't that far off the mark. Both groups were examples of the "whole being greater than the sum of its parts" concept.
I also have to give props to brilliant writers like Larry Charles and Larry David.
I still may see this movie, because I enjoy computer animation and I'm hoping it will appeal to my sense of humor. With apologies to Mr. David, I may have to curb my enthusiasm a bit before entering the theater, though.
Posted by: Glenn S. | November 01, 2007 at 10:11 AM
The dozens of obnoxious NBC "commercials" are enough to turn me away from the film. Did it NBC that much to get Jerry to do a single episode of 30 Rock?!
Posted by: Tanner | November 01, 2007 at 09:15 PM
...Did it *cost* NBC...
Posted by: Tanner | November 01, 2007 at 09:16 PM
Absolutely right, Glenn. I was watching a Seinfeld greatest hits episode Thursday night (probably scheduled by syndicators to coincide with Bee Movie's release the next day) and noticed more than ever how Jerry was the weakest link.
Tanner, I'm sure there was some kind of swap-off there. Seeing Gene Shalit gush about Bee Movie on the Today Show (plus the crew in bee costumes, etc.) proved Jerry must have some incriminating photos on someone at NBC.
By the way, T, congrats on the new part-time gig. We stopped at Jilly's yesterday and your gramps told us. Princess Di and I will be there with fins on!
Posted by: Steve | November 04, 2007 at 11:16 AM
The fact that this movie didn't top the box office against American Gangster already shows that its weak. Granted, 39 mil is a good opening week, but certainly not great considering the hype. Also, "what's the deal" with the McDonald's happy meal tie-in when your wife is shlepping a healthy kid cookbook?
Posted by: Kennedy | November 05, 2007 at 06:06 PM
Excellent point, Kennedy.
Posted by: Steve | November 07, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Ha, thanks Steve! I'm looking forward to it, I'll let you know when I'm "show ready" (I'm still training at the moment).
Posted by: Tanner | November 09, 2007 at 09:56 PM