Burt's Buzz Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Burt's Buzz Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 28, 2014

For Burt Shavitz, a simple idea to make a little money selling honey near his home in Maine snowballed into decades of fame and near-fortune, and it’s difficult to tell if he cares at all about the bizarre turn in his life. Directed by Jody Shapiro, “Burt’s Buzz” details the life and times of the creator of Burt’s Bees, a major brand name in the personal care product industry, concentrating on Burt’s current position as the face of the corporation, while his life remains committed to country living and aging, creating an interesting contrast of money and comfort that’s ideal fodder for a cinematic exploration.

Burt isn’t an especially nice guy. 76 years old and set in his ways, the face of Burt’s Bees isn’t interested in disrupting his routine. Shapiro captures a brief time in Burt’s life, following the man as he travels to Minneapolis to pass out lip balm samples to Target employees, and to Taiwan, where Burt-Mania is at an all-time high, welcomed by a throng of fans and pelted with questions from the local press. “Burt’s Buzz” does cover the icon’s origin story (where the young photographer decided to try beekeeping on for size), and surveys his daily life, teamed with his beloved dog and determined handler. Yet, the core of the movie remains with his tour schedule, appreciating the needs of publicity and the limits of Burt’s patience.

Burt's Buzz Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is straightforward, with the HD-shot feature translating well to the BD realm, delivering outstanding detail with Burt's wizened face and lush Maine locations. Product packaging details and clothing also retain appropriate texture. Colors are accurate and balanced well, bursting with greenery and the famous yellow hues of the Burt's Bees product line. Skintones are accurate. Black levels aren't challenged, but remain defined to satisfaction.

Burt's Buzz Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Working within the limited confines of a low-budget documentary, the 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix does an admirable job providing energy to the movie. Interview audio is crisp and clean, managing Burt's mumbling, with the natural sounds of gathered fans and meet-and-greets remains in top condition. Scoring enjoys surges of dominance, remaining comfortable and precise. Farmland atmospherics are modest but noticeable, communicating the nuances of Burt's home.

Burt's Buzz Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Shorts by Isabella Rossellini include surreal examinations of bee behavior in "Burt Talks to the Queen Bee" (3:08, HD), "Burt Talks to the Drone Bee" (3:52, HD), and "Burt Talks to the Worker Bees" (4:02, HD).

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:00, HD) is included.

Burt's Buzz Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Burt's Buzz" gets awfully cagey when the subject of Roxanne Quimby is raised. Burt's ex-girlfriend and the woman responsible for the development and eventual sale of Burt's Bees, Roxanne is only exposed in news footage, leaving a gap where a true appreciation of business history should be. It's obviously a sensitive issue, but the absence of this perspective doesn't slow what remains an informative, amusing portrait of a simple man subjected to the machinery of global fame.