Seen on: October 18, 2008

The players: Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Writer: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Cast: Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Sophie Okonedo, Alicia Keys

Facts of interest: Based on the book by Sue Monk Kidd.

The plot: A young girl (Dakota Fanning) and her caregiver (Jennifer Hudson) flee to a small South Carolina town, where they find shelter with a kind-hearted African-American family of beekeepers.

Our thoughts: Sue Monk Kidd’s acclaimed novel comes to life in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Secret Life of Bees,” a comfortable but at times maybe too simplistic drama about a troubled white girl finding new hope and love inside the home of a family of African-American beekeepers.

Set in 1964, the story focuses on Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning), a lonely 14-year-old girl haunted by the death of her mother. Sick and tired of her aggressive father (Paul Bettany) and shocked by the devastating effects of racism in the South, Lily flees with her caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) to a small South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past.

The two runaways eventually end up on the front porch of August Boatwright (Queen Latifah), a successful businesswoman known for making the best honey in the region. It is there that Lily discovers a world she’s never known before, and it is there that she finds a way to overcome her dark past and built a much brighter future.

I haven’t read the book and can’t comment on how the film version compares to its source material, so what you read here is limited to my take on the big-screen adaptation. “Bees” is certainly a good-hearted coming-of-age drama with stellar performances and strong production values, but it’s the movie’s development of the story line I have a few problems with.

While the film is certainly not boring, the plot tends to slow down dramatically after the first hour without regaining much speed before the end credits start rolling. For what the story here focuses on primarily, 110 minutes are just too long. Lily’s discovery of a new love through August and her sisters obviously takes center stage in the movie, but a lack of character development made it harder for me to stay engaged.

As I mentioned before, the cast is top-notch. Dakota Fanning brings along a lot of energy and turns in a convincing performance as Lily, the young girl who seeks a better understanding of her late mother’s life. Even Latifah, Hudson, Keys and Okonedo hit all the right notes as the warm-hearted characters bringing new light into Lily’s damaged heart.

Freaky quote: “I brough the outside in here." – Dakota Fanning

The final word: Although “The Secret Life of Bees” plays it straight by the book, the film features enough heart and soul to entertain its audiences. But don’t expect fascinating characters or intriguing surprises. It’s pretty clear from the start where the story is heading, and the movie doesn’t take many risks. In the end, it all just feels a little too comfortable.

Article by Franck Tabouring