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Half a dozen veteran performers do their best to elevate a patchy script in "Queen Bees," a gentle romantic comedy set in a retirement community that one character describes as "'Mean Girls' with Medic- Alert bracelets." Longtime sitcom and sitcom-like movie director Michael Lembeck (" Friends ," "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause") keeps it light, though sometimes that translates to superficial. Think "Mean Golden Girls." 

Ellen Burstyn stars as Helen, a widow who is very attached to her devoted grandson Peter ( Matthew Barnes ). He visits her for tea every Thursday in the home she built with her late husband. Helen is very attached to the house as well, and is barely speaking to her daughter Laura ( Elizabeth Mitchell ), Peter's mother, and a realtor who has suggested she sell the house and move into a nearby retirement community called Pine Grove. Helen keeps the house in meticulous condition but can be a bit forgetful. That leads to a kitchen fire, and Helen has to move out while the house is being repaired. The only option is Pine Grove, and she grudgingly agrees to move there for just one month.

She is not sure which she finds more objectionable, all of the "Welcome to Pine Grove" greetings when she arrives ("I'm only staying for a month," she snaps), or the clique-y derision of the bossy AARP mean girls who tell Helen she has to leave "their" table in the dining room and will not admit her to the bridge club. The leader is the acerbic bully Janet ( Jane Curtin ), who allows a select trio to be in the "cool" group as long as they follow her rules. They include Sally ( Loretta Devine ), a brighter version of "Golden Girls'" sweet-natured Rose, and Margot ( Ann-Margret ), a sweet-natured version of "Golden Girls'" man-hungry Blanche. Margot is always on the lookout for Mr. Right #6, or at least Mr. Right Now. At the moment, she has her eye on Arthur ( Christopher Lloyd ), who is very popular with the ladies despite a toupee described as looking like a muskrat died on his head.

Helen does not take Janet's insults seriously, reminding everyone she is only going to be there for a month. But when a fourth member of the group dies and Sally wants to bring in Helen as a bridge partner, Helen cannot resist the chance to play a game she knows she plays well, or the opportunity to challenge Janet's dominance. This is not a movie about clever one-ups-womanship, though. The second half is more interested in Helen's developing romance with a debonair new arrival named Dan ( James Caan ). 

It's a pleasure to see pros like Burstyn create layered, appealing characters out of thinly written, predictable material. Her scenes with Barnes have an easy natural rapport as they trade favorite quotes, citing an amusing range of sources from Nelson Mandela and coach Lou Holtz to Miley Cyrus . It helps that she looks like a million bucks in a series of soigné gowns courtesy of costume designer Cynthia Flynt, amplifying Helen's confidence and impeccable style. 

Devine's semi-improvised discussion of her very impressive and not entirely natural hair is a delight in a scene where she and Helen share a joint. And Ann-Margret speaks of her five husbands with such relish ("And the last two were rich!") that we can understand how someone would want to be number six. There is some snap in the dialogue, too. Laura describes her mother to Pine Gardens' manager ( French Stewart , reuniting with his "Third Rock" co-star Curtin): "She burns most of her calories rolling her eyes."  

As all movies about this stage of life must, among obvious jokes about aches, pains, and Viagra—apparently it is okay to sexually objectify someone if you're old—"Queen Bees" touches gently and sympathetically on the inescapable challenges of aging, loss of loved ones, loss of independence, cancer, strokes, and dementia. Helen speaks ruefully about "what passes for okay at this age." But the movie's lesson is that it's our connections, strengthening old ones and making new ones, that make what passes for okay pretty good.

Now playing in theaters and available on demand.

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Queen Bees (2021)

Rated PG-13

Ellen Burstyn as Helen

James Caan as Dan

Ann-Margret as Margot

Jane Curtin as Janet

Christopher Lloyd as Arthur

Loretta Devine as Sally

Elizabeth Mitchell as Laura

Matthew Barnes as Peter

French Stewart as Ken

• Michael Lembeck

Writer (story by)

• Harrison Powell
• Donald Martin

Cinematographer

• Alice Brooks
• Sabine Hoffman
• Walter Murphy

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‘Queen Bees’ Review: Mean Girls on Social Security

Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine and Ann-Margret rule their senior community in this conventional comedy-drama that doesn’t waste its cast.

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By Glenn Kenny

In what may be a first for cinema, “Queen Bees,” directed by Michael Lembeck, depicts a senior citizen using a mobile phone with no difficulty whatsoever. The senior in question is Helen, played by Ellen Burstyn, an independent woman who’s calling the living center for elders that keeps sending her brochures. In emphatic tones she tells the representative that she’s not moving from her house, which is pleasant but feels a little empty.

The problem is, she keeps locking herself out of her house. This habit, and Helen’s isolation as a widow, are of concern to her grandson Peter (Matthew Barnes) and of perhaps mercenary concern to her daughter Laura (Elizabeth Mitchell). When a kitchen fire necessitates repairs, Helen is compelled to move into that living center — on what she repeatedly insists will be a temporary basis.

Here she meets the “Queen Bees” of the movie’s title, a trio of imperious women, led by Janet (Jane Curtin), Sally (Loretta Devine) and Margot (Ann-Margret), who rule the community’s card room and cafeteria. When Sally tries to convince Helen to ingratiate herself with these power holders, Helen protests that this isn’t high school. Sally responds that it’s worse; in “high school we graduate. Here, we die.”

One needn’t bother to make a “Mean Girls” comparison, as the movie’s dialogue itself does. “Queen Bees” is a thoroughly conventional comedy-drama right down to its saccharine score by Walter Murphy. (Yes, the “ A Fifth of Beethoven ” guy.) That said, it does not waste its impeccable cast, which also includes Christopher Lloyd and a remarkably game James Caan as Helen’s love interest. Each of these stalwarts bring more than charisma to their roles, and when the writing itself displays some snap (which admittedly isn’t that often) the performers bite right into it.

Queen Bees Rated PG-13 for language, senior themes. Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes. In theaters and available to rent or buy on Apple TV , Vudu and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.

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Review: An AARP ‘Mean Girls,’ ‘Queen Bees’ gives Ellen Burstyn a welcome leading role

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For the opportunity to see the great Ellen Burstyn in a lead movie role, the buoyant, AARP-friendly comedy “Queen Bees” is alone worth the watch. The enduring, Oscar-winning star of such classic 1970s films as “The Last Picture Show,” “The Exorcist” and “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” as well as last year’s galvanizing “Pieces of a Woman” (for which she was egregiously overlooked at awards time), Burstyn brings her A-game to the role of Helen, a widow forced to temporarily move into a retirement village after a fire in her longtime home.

The pragmatic, independent Helen — described by her controlling daughter, Laura ( Elizabeth Mitchell , quite good), as someone who “burns most of her calories rolling her eyes” — hates the lovely Pine Grove Senior Community on sight, though takes solace in the fact that she’ll only be there for a month. (Uh, don’t take that time frame to the bank.)

But Helen really gets off on the wrong foot when she innocently runs afoul of the so-called Queen Bees, a feisty, tightknit trio — crabby ringleader Janet (Jane Curtin), amorous Margot (Ann-Margret, looking great) and puckish Sally (the always welcome Loretta Devine ) — who think they rule the roost. (“They’re like ‘mean girls’ but with medical alert bracelets,” Helen wryly notes.)

Still, a series of events, including a sudden need for Helen’s ace bridge skills, lead the “Bees” to befriend her and she’s soon part of the hive. Prepare for a bit of rough sledding, though, courtesy of the troublesome Janet.

Meanwhile, a charming widower, Dan (James Caan), pursues the hesitant Helen and a sweet romance develops. But can it last? It’s complicated.

The film, directed by Michael Lembeck (“The Santa Clause 2,” “Tooth Fairy”) from a script by Donald Martin (based on a story by Harrison Powell, a producer here) may not cover any blazingly new territory, features a few contrived obstacles and doesn’t sufficiently explain why Curtin’s Janet is so cruel. But it’s largely such a sincere and diverting look at growing older and how change remains possible — Helen’s journey is particularly well drawn — that it’s easy to forgive the film’s occasional missteps.

The engaging cast also includes Christopher Lloyd as a Pine Grove lothario with memory issues, French Stewart as the facility’s agenda-driven administrator, a nicely toned-down Alec Mapa as the resident masseuse, and a winning Matthew Barnes as Helen’s devoted, protective grandson.

'Queen Bees'

Rated: PG-13, for drug use, suggestive material and some language Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes. Playing: Starts June 11, Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; Laemmle Town Center, Encino; Laemmle Newhall, Santa Clarita; Laemmle Glendale; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena; also on Laemmle Virtual Cinema

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Queen Bees (2021)

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‘Queen Bees’ Review: A Lightweight but Likable Comedy Propelled by an All-Star Team of Old Pros

Ellen Burstyn and James Caan head an unusually strong cast of familiar faces in director Michael Lembeck’s indie crowd-pleaser.

By Joe Leydon

Film Critic

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There will always been a place in the world for older-skewing movies as pleasant as “ Queen Bees ,” a lightweight but likable comedy set primarily in a retirement community where close friendships are forged — sometimes reluctantly, sometimes immediately — and autumnal romance can blossom. For years, their natural habitat has been bargain-matinee multiplex screenings, where over-50 ticketbuyers might attend solo, in groups or accompanied by children and/or grandchildren. More recently, viewing options have expanded to include the modern miracle of VOD. But any way you look at it, director Michael Lembeck’s indie offering is bound to please nearly anyone in its target demographic who isn’t easily offended by unmistakable indications that, as the old saying goes, although there’s snow on the roof, fire can still burn in the hearth.

Ellen Burstyn heads the unusually strong cast of familiar faces as Helen Wilson, a fiercely independent retired schoolteacher who — much to the dismay of Laura (Elizabeth Mitchell), her slightly control-freakish daughter — is determined to keep living in the spacious house where she shared so many good times with her three-years-deceased husband. But after she accidentally causes a fire in her kitchen, Helen is forced to move into a retirement community while extensive damage is repaired. The relocation, she insists to anyone who’ll listen, is only temporary. Sure.

Shortly after she settles in at Pine Grove Senior Community, Helen runs into the unofficial rulers of the roost: much-married Margot (Ann-Margret), free-spirited Sally (Loretta Devine) and their ringleader, the sternly matriarchal Janet (Jane Curtin). These “Queen Bees,” Helen tells her attentive grandson Peter (Matthew Barnes), “are like mean girls, but with medical alert bracelets.” When a fourth member of the geriatric clique conveniently dies, however, there is an opening at the card table. And Helen just happens to be an ace bridge player.

Things proceed apace — predictably, yet amusingly — as love (or, to be more precise, lust) instantly binds Margot and Arthur (Christopher Lloyd), a Pine Grove newbie with a seemingly turbo-charged libido, while Helen takes considerably more time warming to the romantic overtures of Dan ( James Caan ), another recent addition to the retirement community.

Janet, a chronic sourpuss with a touch of Iago about her, periodically commits malicious mischief to complicate things, leading to a third-act revelation that seems cribbed from a turn-of-the-century romcom. More often, though, “Queen Bees” plays like a 1980s or ’90s sitcom — hey, did somebody say “The Golden Girls”? — complete with “very special episodes” involving cancer threats and other mortal stakes, and wisecracks that sound hand-tooled for laugh-track accompaniment. (Asked if Helen exercises, Laura replies, “She burns most of her calories rolling her eyes.”)

On the other hand, there are good reasons why many of those decades-old sitcoms remain enduringly popular on cable TV, not the least of which being the potent chemistry of their casts. A similar sort of charm propels “Queen Bees,” as well-cast supporting players like French Stewart (as the excitable Pine Grove manager) and Alec Mapa (as a philosophical Filipino masseur) have their moments to shine, and the leads interact with crowd-pleasing deftness.

Burstyn and Caan are so effortlessly charming together, you find yourself wishing they would be cast in a long-afterwards sequel to “Same Time, Next Year.” Lloyd and Ann-Margret are affectingly pitch-perfect in a payoff scene for the relationship between their characters, Devine brings equal flair to funny business and serious stuff, and Curtin is hilariously hateful until she doesn’t have to be.

There are about a dozen different ways “Queen Bees” could have soured into something unbearably silly and condescending — like, say, 2017’s unfortunate “Just Getting Started” — while dealing with the diminished physical abilities and unabated physical desires of its older characters. Fortunately, director Lembeck and scripter Donald Martin are savvy enough to avoid almost all of the booby traps — even while Helen and Sally are talking about, well, boobs — and emphasize the rueful self-awareness of those Pine Grove residents who want to enjoy their twilight days to the fullest before they go gentle into that good night.

Reviewed online, Houston, June 9, 2021. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 101 MIN.

• Production: A Gravitas Ventures release of an Affirm Films presentation and production, in association with Arclight Films Int'l. Producers: Harrison A. Powell, Dominique Telson, Fred Bernstein. Executive producers: Rick Jackson, Claudine Marrotte.
• Crew: Director: Michael Lembeck. Screenplay: Donald Martin; story: Harrison A. Powell. Camera: Alice Brooks. Editor: Sabine Hoffman. Music: Walter Murphy.
• With: Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Ann-Margret, Jane Curtin, Christopher Lloyd, Loretta Devine, Elizabeth Mitchell, Matthew Barnes, French Stewart, Alec Mapa.

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‘Queen Bees’ Film Review: Ellen Burstyn Leads an All-Star Cast Determined to Elevate Meh Material

An impressive comic ensemble is the only reason to see this golden-age rom-com

A love story set in a retirement home is a sweet premise, and when you stack the cast with greats like Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Jane Curtin, Ann-Margret, Christopher Lloyd, and Loretta DeVine, greatness is expected. But in director MIchael Lembeck’s “Queen Bees,” the overly simplistic nature of the script becomes both pragmatic and detrimental, never allowing any character the depth they are owed while providing just enough of a formulaic plot, one that asks nothing more than for you to enjoy the ensemble. 

Helen (Burstyn) is an independent woman in her 80s whose daughter Laura (Elizabeth Mitchell, “Lost”) and grandson Peter (Matthew Barnes, “Strange Angel”) are getting worried about her living alone. The matriarch constantly refuses her daughter’s suggestions about moving into a nearby retirement community until the day Helen accidentally sets her kitchen on fire. She finally agrees to live in the retirement community, for one month, until her home repairs are completed.

Helen quickly learns who the mean girls of Pine Grove are by getting on the bad side of Janet (Curtin), while befriending Margot (Ann-Margret) and Sally (Devine). Soon Helen finds herself not only enjoying her time at Pine Grove but also starting to consider love again, after she meets and is wooed by the community’s newest resident, Dan (Caan).

From the visual style to the storytelling, “Queen Bees” envelops itself in simplicity, served up like a warm dish of comfort food that’s had some of the flavor microwaved out of it. Production designer Dara Wishingrad (“The Photograph”) paints Helen’s world in cool pastel tones — so much so that when warm hues appear in later scenes to emulate the feeling of falling in love, it feels like a different film, and not in an intentional way. Cinematographer Alice Brooks (“In the Heights”) sometimes shoots the retirement community to look like a hotel, which only contributes to the flatness of the relationships that are forming there.

The script by Hallmark veteran Donald Martin, based on a story by Harrison Powell, reads like wannabe early-aughts Nancy Meyers, with a less misogynistic “Taming of the Shrew” subplot. The lack of substance in the writing becomes most apparent in the portrayal of female friendships. Those relationships have always represented a complex dynamic, but “Queen Bees” — unlike similar films about women over a certain age, including “Something’s Gotta Give,” “It’s Complicated,” and “Book Club” — barely attempts to explore them with any kind of depth.

And while Devine is a gem in this film, bringing warmth and energy to every scene she’s in, it’s hard not to see her presence here as a kind of tokenization. Sure, her character has a backstory, but why does she align herself with three white women who call themselves “mean girls,” and why does she have no relationship at all with the only other Black woman in the film?

For all the superficiality and shortcomings of “Queen Bees,” the film’s biggest draw, and strongest attribute, is its packed ensemble of iconic actors. Burstyn and Caan create the kind of chemistry that will make audiences care about their relationship and whether or not it will come to fruition. It’s easy to see why these talented performers are still booking jobs in their 70s and 80s because even without strong material, they alone make the film worth watching. (Strange, though, that the producers missed the opportunity to exploit “Third Rock from the Sun” nostalgia by pairing Curtin and co-star French Stewart in a scene together.)

“Queen Bees” won’t win any awards, and it is far from being a classic rom-com, but it’s certainly a film to consider if you’re taking your grandmother out to the movies. If nothing else, it’s trying to shine a spotlight on some older characters — and older character actors — and one can hope more films like this get made, only with a better sense of what womanhood and friendship looks like in the golden years.

“Queen Bees” opens in U.S. theaters and on demand June 11.

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Queen Bees’ On VOD, A Rom-Com Meets ‘Mean Girls’ In A Senior Community

Where to stream:.

• Stream It Or Skip It

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When you think Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Jane Curtin, Christopher Lloyd, Ann-Margret, and Loretta Devine, you probably picture their most iconic screen and stage moments from decades ago. In Queen Bees, now available on demand, this group of legends comes together in their 70s and 80s for a sugary-sweet comedy where mean girls run the halls of a senior community and it’s never too late to find love.

QUEEN BEES : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Helen (Ellen Burstyn) is sick of being sent brochures for senior living community Pine Grove. When we first meet her, she’s giving a staff member a piece of her mind over the phone, telling them to stop wasting paper on trying to convince her to move there. She’s content living in her family home alone, enjoying tea time with her grandson Peter (Matthew Barnes) and savoring her independence. When she locks herself out and inadvertently starts a house fire, however, Helen is forced to move into Pine Grove while repairs are done – a move she insists is only temporary.

While she is initially against the move, it seems like a better option than staying with her daughter Laura ( Lost ‘s Elizabeth Mitchell), as things have been tense between them for some time. Helen soon finds that Pine Grove isn’t as pleasant as one might guess, thanks to the “queen b’s”, a trio of women – Janet (Jane Curtin), Margot (Ann-Margret), and Sally (Loretta Devine) who run the halls of the community. While Helen adjusts to this new social hierarchy, she’s also being courted by the charming Dan (James Caan), who seems to know all the right things to say. Things may be difficult at first, but Queen Bees tells us it’s never too late – never too late to be kind, to open your heart to new experiences, to fall in love, to let the past go.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Queen Bees may bring to mind films like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel , Hope Springs , Then Came You , and even Book Club on occasion. And yes, the Mean Girls inspiration is made quite obvious, even if there isn’t much follow through. Queen Bees feels like a made-for-TV movie, so it will appeal to the lovers of Hallmark romances.

Performance Worth Watching: The entire ensemble delivers some charming performances, but I was most won over by Loretta Devine as Sally. She’s the first to appear at Helen’s doorstep with an olive branch, brushing off Janet’s bitchiness and imbuing every one of her interactions with warmth and a sense of humor. A standout moment comes when she asks Helen to get stoned after finding out some tragic news, and it’s so fun to watch Devine and Burstyn play off one another as they smoke in bed. Devine has one of those eternally dazzling screen presences.

Memorable Dialogue: A lot of the dialogue in Queen Bees is cheeseball, but I was tickled by this exchange between Helen and Sally: “This isn’t high school,” says Helen. “You’re right!” replies Sally. “It’s worse. High school, we graduate. Here, we die.”

Sex and Skin: There are some references to some of Arthur’s sexual stamina and his evenings with many a lady at Pine Grove, but not much else.

Our Take: Queen Bees , for all its clichés and predictability, charmed me. Maybe it’s because I have a soft spot for all of the performers, or because I’m a sucker for films about the elderly living their best lives (there need to be more!). Or maybe it’s just because films that are overly sentimental, well-intentioned, and feel like they’re made for TV are what the heart wants sometimes. You’ll likely be surprised by nothing in Queen Bees ‘s hour and 40 minutes, but who watches these kinds of movies to be surprised? We’re here for a balm of sorts, a journey that may pull out a few tears but is mainly here to warm our hearts and give us some peace of mind in this wild world of dark thrillers and loud action flicks. And that’s exactly what Queen Bees delivers.

With its corny score and formulaic script, Queen Bees could easily be written off had the cast been full of nobodies. It is a pretty forgettable story, and the film’s direction isn’t much better. But this is *the* cast! I mean, James Caan alone is enough to sell you. And none of them phone it in, either. They all are incredibly game for the entire story, giving as much to Queen Bees as they might give to The Godfather or The Exorcist . (Okay, maybe not that level, but they’re still fantastic). Moments that may otherwise have faded into the rest of the film’s syrupy story are elevated to a place that’s genuinely moving; I got a little misty when Margot finally got a peek into Arthur’s apartment, and when mother and daughter reconciled and had a good ol’ cathartic cry. Without this cast, it might have been eye-roll inducing, but they truly make it watchable. Queen Bees may not stay on the brain long past the time the credits roll, but it’s pleasant enough to warrant almost two hours of your time. It’s just that soothing!

Our Call: STREAM IT… if you’re into this sort of thing. Queen Bees may be too saccharine for its own good, but it is saved by lovely, convincing performances from an all-star cast.

Should you stream or skip #QueenBees (starring Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Jane Curtin, Ann-Margret, and Loretta Devine) on VOD? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) June 13, 2021

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski .

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The combined age of the key cast of the new comedy Queen Bees  is so astronomical I can’t count that high. Ellen Burstyn is 88, James Caan is 81, Ann-Margret is 80(!), Loretta Devine is 71, Jane Curtin is 73 and Christopher Lloyd is 82. All of these actors have had stellar, awards-laden careers, and this new film, which could be described as Mean Girls  in a retirement home, proves they still have a lot of firepower left.

The older audience is a potent one for movies, if only  Hollywood made movies  for  them — films where maybe they can relate to characters their own age in showing it is never too late (this film’s original title) to find life and love. The idea for this one actually came from producer Harrison Powell, who based it on the experience of his own family, a grandmother who found new love when she reluctantly went to live for a brief time in a retirement home. That is the plotline here as independent Helen (Burstyn) refuses her daughter Laura’s (Elizabeth Mitchell) advice in moving from her comfortable home to a facility for seniors. However, a kitchen accident sets part of her house on fire and she is convinced to move to the retirement community for only one month while repairs take place.

When she gets there she finds that despite the advanced age of the residents it is really no different than high school, ruled by different cliques including a bridge club that doesn’t believe in inclusivity. That group is run by Queen Bee Janet (Curtin), who rejects the idea of Helen joining their game which also includes Queen Bees Margot (Ann-Margret) and Sally (Loretta Devine). But when Sally’s partner becomes incapacitated she rallies support for Helen to join. It is friction between Helen and Janet from that moment on.

In addition to the problems of fitting into this universe, Helen is wooed by likable newbie Dan (Caan), who courts her and finally wins her over (though there are complications). The other major male resident spotlighted here is Arthur (Lloyd), a frisky senior who is slowly slipping into dementia, making for a poignant few scenes involving him.

There is no attempt at broad comedy or outlandish situations in the script by Donald Martin, or the expert direction of veteran Michael Lembeck. It is just the stuff of life as we grow older, presented in an entertaining and fun scenario that feels old fashioned, the kind of movie Hollywood once loved turning out; with this superb veteran cast it is very welcome indeed. Burstyn is still one of the best out there, and Ann-Margret has clearly stopped the clock. Devine is a delight here as Sally, a spirited resident who has her own battles with aging. Curtin is perfectly cast, as are Caan and Lloyd. French Stewart turns up as the manager of the place, and there’s nice work from Matthew Barnes as Peter, Helen’s sweet and concerned grandson. Queen Bees  is well worth seeing, no matter what your age.

Producers are Fred Bernstein, Powell and Dominique Telson. Gravitas Ventures opens it in theaters Friday. Check out my video review above with scenes from the film.

Do you plan to see  Queen Bees? Let us know what you think.

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Screen Rant

Queen bees ending explained.

Helen finally found companionship and love at the Pine Grove Senior Community by the end of Queen Bees, leading to a heartfelt and happy conclusion.

• Helen forgave Dan's betrayal because she saw that he truly loved her and wanted to make her happy. Love triumphs in the end.
• Janet's decision to help Helen find Dan stemmed from her own fear of being alone. She wanted to change and be a nicer person to avoid a lifetime of anger.
• Helen and Dan decided to stay at Pine Grove because moving on from the past and embracing new beginnings is a central theme of the movie. They found happiness and purpose in their new life together.

Helen Wilson (Ellen Burstyn) was able to find friends at the Pine Grove Senior Community, and the ending of Queen Bees had her also finding love and marrying Dan Simpson (James Caan). Helen had a tough time adjusting to life at Pine Grove, but she eventually befriended the other Queen Bees and created a new home in the community. Though there were some hiccups along the way, as Janet Poindexter (Jane Curtin) revealed that Dan had been hired to make Helen happy at Pine Grove, the romantic comedy currently streaming on Netflix has a heartfelt ending, which helped propel it to success.

Queen Bees ' ending saw Helen forge new relationships and rekindle the one she had with her daughter. Queen Bees was also a Caan and Burstyn reunion , and Queen Bees also showed an older James Caan could still pull his comedic weight. The movie has a fairly straightforward ending, but it also tackles some tough questions and themes . The ending of Queen Bees shows Helen and Dan in a happy new marriage, but it needs a bit of an explanation.

James Caan's 10 Most Iconic Characters (& Their Best Quotes)

Why helen took dan back despite his betrayal in queen bees’ ending, it's an old trope, but it worked..

Towards the end of Queen Bees , it was revealed that Dan had been hired by Pine Grove's facility manager Ken to make sure Helen was happy at the senior community. Helen's daughter, Laura (Elizabeth Mitchell), had threatened to sabotage a land deal Pine Grove needed to expand if her mother wasn't happy. Janet exposed Dan's job to get back at Helen for taking over her friend group. Helen, understandably, felt betrayed by Dan, as she saw the situation as him trying to trick her into falling in love.

However, by the end of the movie, she had taken Dan back. One of the reasons for her decision is because she saw that Dan truly loved her when Janet forced Ken to speak about where Dan had gone, and he told them Dan had returned his salary. The biggest reason, though, was simply that Helen loved him. She had gone back to her house earlier, and as she explained to Laura, she felt that her late husband Charlie wanted her to move on and enjoy life . Dan made her happy during a big change in her life, and she wanted to be with him for the rest of it.

Janet’s Decision To Help Helen Find Dan Explained

Janet's fear of being alone changed her ways..

Janet began as a very rude and unpleasant person in Queen Bees . As the leader of the Bees, she was mostly responsible for the group's reputation of being mean around Pine Grove. In the end, she had decided to give up her coarse ways and try to be a nicer person. She explained the decision to Helen, saying that she felt bad for betraying Helen and that she didn't want to be angry for the rest of her life . As Helen pointed out, that change wasn't likely to happen overnight, but Janet seemed committed to changing herself.

Earlier in the movie, after her surprise birthday lunch with the other Bees, Janet felt empowered to confront her estranged son, whom she hadn't spoken to in a long time, but she discovered that her son had told his neighbors that Janet was dead. Janet realized that she had driven her son away with her attitude and that she was driving everyone else she cared about away, too , including the Bees. Janet was afraid of death throughout the movie, which drove her dedication to exercise, but a long life is meaningless if she had no one to share it with.

Why Helen And Dan Decided To Stay At Pine Grove

Moving on is a key theme of the movie..

While Helen was explaining her decision to marry Dan to Laura, she said that they would be moving into an apartment in Pine Grove together. Helen was initially very reluctant to leave the house she had built with her late husband, Charlie, but her worries were assuaged when she visited the house one night. Their decision to sell the house and live together at Pine Grove spoke to the central theme of the movie, that Helen had to move on from the past in order to enjoy the rest of her life . Charlie was gone, but he would always be in her heart, and she could take him with her wherever she called home.

Queen Bees is available to stream on Netflix.

What Queen Bees’ Ending Really Means

There's always more life left to live..

Queen Bees is a simple romantic comedy about people in the golden years of their lives, but its message covers much more complex themes. The movie is about letting go of the past and of loss, like Helen needed to do to move on. Helen was listless in her house, and the rest of her life suffered because of it. Moving to Pine Grove gave her a new purpose and a new lease on life. Because she was able to physically move, she also spiritually moved. She was able to make new relationships and finally address the years-long feud she had with her daughter and make amends.

The movie also shows that there is more life to enjoy, even when it seems like the best days have passed. Helen lived a full life, with a loving husband and a beautiful family, but she still had more life to experience in her later years. She didn't need to shuffle through her house alone just because of her age,; she could still make new friends and find new love. Helen and Dan stayed at Pine Grove in Queen Bees because they had made a new life together there, and they were committed to enjoying it .

Queen Bees is a heartfelt romantic comedy about a group of seniors finding new love. What began as a high school drama set in a nursing home ended as a heartfelt tale about letting go of the past and looking forward to the future. Helen and Dan were able to find and choose each other even after their long lives, and their love for each other promises to make the rest of their days sweet.

Queen Bees: Is the Story of the Ellen Burstyn Movie True?

With Michael Lembeck occupying the director’s chair, ‘Queen Bees’ is a 2021 romantic-comedy movie that stars Ellen Burstyn as the independent and widowed senior citizen Helen Wilson who decides to temporarily move to a nearby retirement community — Pine Grove Senior Community — while her house undergoes repair. To her surprise, she finds out that the community is just like high school, with different cliques, fiercely headstrong widows, bullying girls, and flirtatious gentlemen all over the campus. At first, the high school-like traits of the community make her regret her decision to sign up for it and long for the solitude of her home.

However, Helen begins to accept the fact that it is never too late to step into new friendships and give love another chance, as she strikes a chord with newcomer Dan. The comedy-drama film , featuring James Caan, Ann-Margret, Christopher Lloyd, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, and Elizabeth Mitchell, alongside Ellen, sheds light on the importance of second chances, friendship, and love even in the later stages of one’s life, sparking questions about the tale’s authenticity in the minds of the audience.

Queen Bees is Inspired by Real Life Experiences

Yes, ‘Queen Bees’ is based on a true story. The hilarious tale of romance and friendship has its roots in producer Harrison Powell’s wife Sarah Powell’s grandmother’s journey of finding love again after she reluctantly moved into a retirement community as a widow. Powell collaborated with Donald Martin to weave the enthralling story of an elderly woman based on the real events that took place in the life of the grandmother of the producer’s wife. In a statement, co-producer Dominique Telson said, “As a witness to the joy that finding love at 80 can bring, we knew it was a film we wanted to make and the amazing cast really brought it to life.”

Harrison Powell witnessed ‘Queen Bees’ unfold in front of his eyes as a family affair in the 2010s. When his wife’s grandmother, Sparky Moredock, tragically lost her husband on October 24, 2013, she made the decision to enroll in a retirement community. Upon moving there, Sparky couldn’t believe that the way things worked in the community was reminiscent of her old high school days, including the cliques, rivalries, friendships, flirting, and pranks. During a conversation with DirecTV Insider in May 2021, Powell explained, “Like our main character, Helen, Sparky wanted nothing to do with any of it.”

The Sandy Springs native added, “But after her initial resistance, she came to realize that it’s never too late to make new friends, to laugh, to go skinny-dipping or to fall in love. She eventually met a wonderful man named Don and they got married two years ago.” As a production executive at Astute Films, Powell saw potential in the story and pursued it. He wanted the entire world to hear Sparky’s inspirational and heartwarming tale and instill renewed hope and encouragement in other people that remaining open to new connections and optimistic at every age might lead to some life-changing friendships and relationships.

Confident about the tale of his wife’s grandmother’s happily ever after, he went to the company’s president — Fred Bernstein — and put forward the idea for a film based on her experiences. Fortunately, Powell’s idea resonated with Bernstein and he gave the thumbs up for Powell to go for it. Bernstein explained, “We believed it would find the right balance between heartwarming, meaningful, humorous, and emotional. It was a story that everyone at Astute could relate to.”

Next, even Astute’s Vice President of Development and Production — Dominique Telson — was in favor of greenlighting the story of Sparky. He said, “Astute wants to make films that matter and this has a message that matters: It’s never too late to enjoy life and move forward.” So, taking into consideration all the above-mentioned factors, it would be safe to say that ‘Queen Bees’ takes us on an authentic journey of an elderly widowed woman who finds new friends and love in a retirement community of all places.

Read More: Best Older Man Younger Woman Romance Movies on Netflix

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Review: ‘Queen Bees’ with Ellen Burstyn, James Caan lacks buzz

The exemplary cast can't do much with the weak script..

This image released by Gravitas Ventures shows, from left, Jane Curtain, Loretta Devine and Ann Margret in a scene from "Queen Bees." (Gravitas Ventures via AP)

The bland but bearable “Queen Bees,” about finding love in a retirement home, is a movie that insists on being undemanding — a little too undemanding.

This is meant to be a warmhearted film that brings together an impressive cast of septuagenarians and octogenarians — Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, Christopher Lloyd and Ann-Margret. These performers do manage to keep us reasonably engaged, even if we wish they had more interesting things to do.

Helen (Burstyn) is a staunchly independent widow, but after a laborious setup, she reluctantly agrees to stay temporarily at the posh Pine Grove Senior Community, while her house undergoes repairs. We don’t believe for a second that she would acquiesce to such an arrangement, but at least the story can begin in earnest, and earnest it is.

For a split second, we are lulled into thinking that “Queen Bees” might take an edgier turn, when new resident Helen discovers a “Mean Girls”-like clique made up of the crotchety Janet (Curtin), the bubbly Sally (Devine) and man-crazy Margot (Ann-Margret). But the timid script squanders the comic (and dramatic) opportunities of that premise.

Director Michael Lembeck keeps things safe — really safe — and operating with a screenplay with sketchy character development, the actors must work with the thin gruel provided to them. Sometimes they break through, like when Helen and Sally get high, when Janet proclaims that she’s ready to turn over a new leaf, or when Margot discovers that her latest beau has a secret.

Rated PG-13: for drug use, suggestive material, strong language

Running time: 100 minutes

Where: Star Cinema Grill Richmond; Cinemark Memorial City, Houston; Cinemark Hollywood, Pasadena; Cinemark 18, Webster; Cinemark 19, Katy; Cinemark 17, The Woodlands; Star Cinema Grill Baybrook, Friendswood; Star Cinema Grill, Cypress; Star Cinema Grill, Springwoods, Spring; Star Cinema Grill, Missouri City; Begins streaming June 11 on various platforms.

**½ (out of 5)

But all in all, “Queen Bees” is a milquetoast affair, akin to an extended “Golden Girls” episode, only with a little more drama and a lot less wit. The by-the-numbers film is not hard to sit through and won’t offend anybody, but its lofty, worthwhile message doesn’t feel earned.

David Lewis is a San Francisco Bay Area writer.

• David Lewis

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Search Reeling Reviews

When her home is partially destroyed by a fire after she locks herself out for the umpteenth time, Helen Wilson (Ellen Burstyn) decides to make a temporary move into the Pine Grove Senior Community. She is shocked to discover an experience much like high school, complete with a trio of mean girls known as the “Queen Bees.”

Laura's Review: D+

Beware movies boasting starry senior casts, especially when the director (Michael Lembeck) has made his mark with television sitcoms (TV's 'Mad About You,' 'Friends') and the writers include a TV Christmas movie specialist (Donald Martin).  Cowritten by producer Harrison Powell, who based the story on his grandmother's experience, “Queen Bees” leans on every cliché in the book yet can’t even develop its titular theme as only one of its ‘rhymes-with-witch’ trio is a geriatric mean girl.  Thankfully the lovely and elegant Burstyn and the reliably charming Devine keep the film from being a total wash, but this is a movie whose 100 minute running time feels like 3 hours.

My mom lives in a place much like the one portrayed here and the table seating incident seen in “Queen Bees’” trailer rang awfully true.  While a couple other incidents, like the inordinate attention paid to single men by widowed women, are also observable in real life, they’re played with such a megaphone here all that’s missing is the canned laugh track.  That also holds true for the wisecracks traded between mother Helen and her daughter Laura (Elizabeth Mitchell, "The Purge: Election Year"), some of which are even amusing but rarely sound like anything someone would actually say.  Then there all the things we’ve seen so many times before.  Seniors ‘shockingly’ smoking pot?  Check.  Seniors kicking butt?  Check.  Bathroom humor?  Check.  A romance begun with a lie that becomes real until that lie is exposed?  Check.   The misinterpreted ‘other woman’?  Check.  A wedding finale?  Check.

The way these elements have been pulled together feels ramshackle, some aspects, like that misunderstood mean girl changing at the drop of a hat, making no sense whatsoever (she’s really a good person, except the reason we’ve just been given for her hurt inexplicably paints her as a bad one).  That would be Jane Curtin, whose attempts to sell this character involve exaggerated facial contortions.  Helen’s close relationship with her grandson Peter (Matthew Barnes, so ‘up with grandma’ he does everything but glad hands) involves trading famous quotations, yet we’re supposed to believe this oldie loving, forgetful elderly woman would recognize a Miley Cyrus song lyric?  That’s a cheap laugh in lieu of character.  A romance between Margot (Ann-Margret) and Arthur (Christopher Lloyd) consists of embarrassing mugging until it turns into gooey sentimentality.  There’s nothing cinematic about the production, something we’re tipped off to from the first few notes of the score.    

Burstyn manages to glide through this disaster with grace, her hesitant romance with Dan (James Caan, restrained, which is most welcome here) quite lovely (as is the actress at 89!).  Her best scenes with a Bee are with Loretta Devine’s Sally, whose uproarious bit on ‘underboob sweat’ is the film’s funniest.  But these elements are like a life raft on the Titanic.  Avoid this one and check out a similarly themed yet far superior movie, 2015’s Blythe Danner starrer, “I’ll See You in My Dreams.”

Robin's Review: C-

Helen (Ellen Burstyn) lost her dear husband Charlie some years ago but happily continues living independently in her own home. Then, she locks herself out, leaving the stove on high, and a fire breaks out. The damage is so extensive, she has to find a place to live during the renovation and reluctantly agrees to stay at the Pine Grove retirement village – but only temporarily, she insists – in “Queen Bees.”

Octogenarian Ellen Burstyn and a movie titled “Queen Bees.” It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out, with that bit of info alone, what you are about to see, and you are probably going to be 100% right.

When Helen faces moving out of her home, even for a little while, she digs her heels in with her realtor daughter Laura (Elizabeth Mitchell) and sympathetic grandson, Peter (Matthew Barnes), and plans to stay at Pine Grove for as short a time as possible. Then, while sitting down to eat breakfast, she is confronted by the titular bossy ladies who curtly ask her to leave “their” table. Well, only one of them, Janet (Jane Curtin), insists she vacate the space. The other members of the QBs, Sally (Loretta Devine) and Margot (Ann Margret), are happy to have Helen join the fold.

This sets the stage for what abounds in elder clichés with seniors acting randy and cutting up cute. Director Michael Lembeck and team of writers (Fred Bernstein, Harrison Powell, Dominique Telson) throw just about every chestnut they can. To the filmmakers’ (minor) credit, they do briefly touch on issues like dementia and loneliness, but too little too late.

Gravitas Ventures releases “Queen Bees” in theaters and on demand on 6/11/21.

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Queen Bee Reviews

The acting is not absolutely bad, but weak, very weak, including Joan Crawford’s... Not only is the mise- en-scene clumsy but also, because of its solemn awkwardness, it curbs the timid impulses of the script [and] dulls the rare clever details.

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A vintage item for the Joan Crawford Fan Club, but a bit of an ordeal for non-members like me. She appears as the self-adoring psychotic empress of a wealthy tribe of moderns.

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About as much fun as being stung by a bee.

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