Like the rank and file of bees, everyone has their place here and they work towards an end product that is sweet but best enjoyed by children.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Life of Bees is a pleasant little film that reduces overwhelming ideas into light emotional drama.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 5, 2023

A wonderful film for families.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 22, 2020

The mawkish possibilities inherent in the story are mostly averted, thanks to the high quality of acting.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 12, 2018

The story was okay, but I think there was an underlying mammy factor that rubbed me the wrong way.

| Original Score: B- | Sep 12, 2017

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 17, 2011

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Apr 4, 2011

All the pieces are there for a good movie but there's an undeniable sense of reluctance to put them into play. Every time it seems like the film might be taking a chance it retreats to safe ground.

| Original Score: 6.5/10 | Apr 1, 2011

A sweet, sentimental story with a sting in the tail.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 3, 2011

Can I tell you a secret? This movie is *really* good. Grab Nana and go see it!

| Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 3, 2009

Bees is almost too sweet, but with enduring enough performances to make a solid movie.

| Original Score: B- | Jul 6, 2009

(...) Hay un mérito atendible en la directora y es evitar caer en la sensiblería barata que el asunto arriesgaba.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 4, 2009

The story is a gentle depiction of harsh times that works best as a coming-of-age parable, not so well as a historical drama.

| Mar 6, 2009

Once again, Dakota Fanning demonstrates that, even as a teenager, she already has the acting skills and range equal to -- if not better than -- her A-list contemporaries.

| Mar 6, 2009

Glossy yet ultimately shallow, this platitudinous, unconvincing drama makes The Colour Purple look like Mississippi Burning.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 6, 2009

On most levels the film, which has a surprising number of unconvincing details, takes the sugary option; it shies away from the harsher realities whenever possible.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 6, 2009

A dense story about a little girl and the impact her mother's death has on her makes terrific cinema in this beautifully realised film

| Feb 27, 2009

The film has a dream-like quality above its punchy emotional core

| Feb 27, 2009

The Secret Life of Bees features another buzz-worthy turn by Dakota Fanning.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 28, 2009

The source material remains affecting and the cast work hard to add dimension to a lacklustre screenplay. But sadly, it adds up to less than the sum of its parts.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 5, 2008