The “Bee Movie”: a 2007 film about a bee fresh out of college trying to find his way in the real world. Sounds pretty silly and dumb but I am here to tell you that it was just the opposite. Once again, DreamWorks did not disappoint. The “Bee Movie” was a hilarious and family-friendly take on what life as a bee could be like. Not only did the film make me laugh, it sent a beautiful message. Even though bees have the ability to give a human a mean sting, the world would eventually end without them. Without plants or animals we would not be able to eat. Pretty bold and true message, Dreamworks.

After graduating from college, it is time for Barry B. Benson to find a job that he will keep for the rest of his life. Unamused by the honey jobs in the hive, Barry the Bee decides to join the Pollen Jocks, bees who collect pollen from flowers, to see what life outside of the hive is really like. While flying around in the real world, he talks to a human, Vanessa, breaking the cardinal rule of the bee community. Barry learns the hard truth about humans: They have been stealing and eating honey for thousands of years! This shocking discovery allows Barry to find his true calling in life to confront and sue the human species for using bees to their advantage.

This PG-rated and animated movie was produced by Jerry Seinfeld and directed by Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner. The cast consisted of Jerry Seinfeld himself as Barry, Renée Zellweger as Vanessa, Matthew Broderick as Adam, and Patrick Warburton as Ken. The family comedy came out in November 2007, receiving mixed reviews. It was praised for its humor but criticized for the overall premise. The film was considered a box office success with a budget of 150 million dollars and grossing 293 million dollars worldwide.

As bizarre and out of the ordinary this plot is, it works. Bees are not supposed to talk to humans but this bee falls in love with one. At first, I did not completely understand why anyone would make a movie about this. How could someone sit in front of a screen for 91 minutes and watch the life of an animated bee unfold? Well, I am here to tell you it is easier than you think. It opens your eyes to how much bees actually do for this world while including a great amount of comedic relief.

Even though the film was animated and fictional, Jerry Seinfeld brought the seriousness of a bee’s job to light. They are born, grow up a little, and then immediately get to work. “So you’ll just work us to death?” Barry the bee asks during his tour of all the jobs. “We’ll sure try,” answers the moderator. While the other bees laughed this off, Barry was not so thrilled. Thus his journey outside the hive began. Eventually, Barry finds out the truth and sues the humans for using his species. In the end, Barry learns that bees are very important as they keep everyone alive. His journey is fun, adventurous, has its ups and downs, and most definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat.

What’s it like being a bee? A question no one would ask themselves. A topic that probably would never come up in a conversation. But somehow I watched and thoroughly enjoyed a movie centered around this exact question. Yes, the “Bee Movie” is unrealistic and yes, the idea was silly, but it is still worth the watch.