The Secret Life of Bees
The Secret Life of Bees Image
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Metascore
57 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 23 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah
  • Summary: The Secret Life of Bees, based on the New York Times best selling novel and set in South Carolina in 1964, is the moving tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping. (Fox Searchlight)
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    Above all, it contains characters I care for, played by actors I admire.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    75
    The filmmakers give Latifah and Fanning room to create characters that breathe in the sweet smell of clover and breathe out the contented sigh of independence.
  3. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    60
    The Secret Life of Bees may not be a "To Kill a Mockingbird" on page or screen, but Fanning is the center of its soul and intelligence. It's Hollywood's job to find strong parts for this precocious genius as she matures into womanhood.
  4. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    60
    May be overly sentimental at times, but at least it's about something.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. AlbertC.
    10
    Outstanding!
  2. KenS.
    9
    I love films that reach deep into my soul to resurrect emotions that are stiffled by the daily march of stress layden life. This film crushes ones heart. tosses it around, plants it on an alter and then heals it.… Expand
  3. ShanaK.
    9
    The story was well written and well acted. A character driven story where the characters have a lot of depth and the story definitely evokes emotion. Bring kleenex if you cry easily in movies as there were lots of sniffles in the theatre.… Expand
  4. JayH.
    6
    Dakota Fanning just doesn't have the acting range to pull off the film. Queen Latifah is terrific though. Rather predictable and overly dramatic, it all seems so familiar. Too slow moving at times. It is a well meaning film, but it is flawed.… Expand

See all 8 User Reviews

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