If having your heartstrings yanked on perpetually for nearly two hours is your thing, The Secret Life of Bees is your kind of film. This is a movie that makes no pretense about its goal to emotionally manipulate the audience, and I can respect that. In this regard, Fanning was the perfect casting choice – her acting and the guidance she’s been given by many directors has been nothing but an exercise in manipulation. Fortunately, the older actors give their characters a little more nuance, even if the screenplay doesn’t offer much.
Latifah anchors the film with a solid performance, even though her character description probably said little more than “a kindly black woman” and Keys is good as the bitchy sister, but it’s Okonedo who really stands out in an emotionally driven performance that thankfully shows some restraint. Jennifer Hudson, who hasn’t gotten a decent role since her Oscar-winning debut in Dreamgirls, kind of gets pushed to the side though, and finds herself without much to do.
The Secret Life of Bees knows exactly what its target demographic is, and I’m sure those that fall within it will come out in droves. It’s the kind of movie that has a built-in audience who will give it nothing but glowing reports as long as it strives to be inspirational and leave its audience with a happy feeling. The Secret Life of Bees holds up its end of the bargain. Just be prepared for that inevitable stomachache that comes as the result of too many sweets when it’s over.
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