I assume most people have seen Bee Movie, but if not, here is a very brief synopsis (spoilers):
Barry B. Benson is a bee who just graduated from college and learns he will spend every day working the same exact job until he eventually dies. Needing a change, he escapes the hive and through a series of events, ends up meeting a human named Vanessa and breaks the rule against bees talking to humans.
Through meeting her, he learns that everything the honey bees make is being used by humans. Barry sues the human race and wins the right to have all their honey back. After this, no flowers are pollinated because bees no longer have to work. This strains the odd relationship between Barry and Vanessa. The bees agree to go back to work because, after all, work is what bees do best.
At the surface, there’s nothing that makes Bee Movie sound like a revolutionary meme or really that amazing of a film. It is when people really look into the odd quotes and offhand remarks of the film or people on YouTube put their editing touches to the movie, that it truly becomes the meme that it has become.
What is making Bee Movie into an eternal cult classic is all of the various edits of the film that exist on YouTube. I hate to admit that I have watched all of them and somehow they bring me great entertainment, in spite of the fact that they aren’t complex, and you can barely understand anything. At the same time they turned an OK movie into a meme that is now once again getting Bee Movie views and money, so as always Jerry Seinfeld wins.
The first obvious joke that comes from the film is the questionable relation between Vanessa and Barry. Although Vanessa has a boyfriend at the beginning of the film, she quickly breaks up with him due to his disliking of Barry. At times, Barry and Vanessa even appear to be flirting. An opposing attorney even accuses Barry of being Vanessa’s “little bed bug.” While bestiality is no joking matter, Bee Movie somehow decides that it is a subject that it is free to lampoon and to a point, earns the respect of viewers. Viewers who might I add, created the couple ship name of "bee-stiality."
That all happens in front of Vanessa’s boyfriend Ken, who just wants to enjoy yogurt night, to the point of exclaiming, “Why is yogurt night so difficult?” Ken is honestly the only normal human being in the film yet is almost treated as a villain because he is trying to come between Vanessa and an insect.
The fact that the movie truly makes no sense is an endearing quality that the film will forever hold.
Tyler Corbit is a freshman studying journalism with a focus in strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What do you think of Bee Movie? Let Tyler know by tweeting him @tylercorbit.
