So, I just finished watching the much-anticipated animated film “The Bee Movie,” starring an insected-up Jerry Seinfeld, the brunetted-up Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick and the ever-exuberant John Goodman.
In short, I thought it was a mildly entertaining film for youngsters, with important lessons about the dangers of messing with nature and how the fates of all living creatures are bound together — for better or worse.
And yet, about halfway through, I found myself disturbed. Oh, not by the warped romance between a bee and a human. No, it was something else.
As I glanced at my watch in the darkened movie theater, it hit me: I’ve seen this movie before.
By God, I was ready to leave.
“The Bee Movie” reminded me too much of another animated film, “Antz,” with a main character eager to stand out in a society steeped in strict rules and traditions; the message that one person can, in fact, change the fate of the world; and the slapstick humor that, admittedly, is popular with kids.
In fact, “The Bee Movie” reminded me too much of several other animated films by both DreamWorks and Pixar. I realize, of course, that there are tried-and-true formulas for a successful film. But much of the energy, imagination and creative writing that’s gone into some of the animation companies’ more successful ventures, including “Shrek,” “Madagascar” and “The Incredibles” seems to have faded in some of their newest offerings.
Maybe I’m expecting too much. Maybe I’ve become used to the “Shrek” initiative — please parents and kids with humor and entertainment they can both appreciate, and develop original plots and characters.
I’m sincerely hoping that both DreamWorks and Pixar can stay out of the ho-hum rut. Otherwise, they’ll lose their audience and struggle like Disney during the 80s and 90s.
And I’ll go back to watching “Shrek” for the 100th time.
“The Bee Movie” and DreamWorks just aren’t living up to the buzz
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