Such a frustrating disappointment

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Redundant and unnecessary.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

I have to admit that this doc was a pleasing experience - while at the same time acknowledging this documentary isn't for everyone. I had no idea there was a real "Burt" behind Burt's bees, much less that he was so fascinating and strange. A true eccentric. I also had no idea that there was a romance, intrigue, and drama behind the story. Or that Burt had a fan base. This is a story about an odd man, and the odd things that happened to him, and how this became a huge brand. If you buy the products, it'll give what you buy an interesting dimension. Assuming you want to buy it again after you see this!

A great contrast of business and simple life through a really interesting men. I think is really interesting that the focus of this documentary is Burt's life because it shows how this Big business was not planned yo be as big as it became. I also really liked it because it has a lot of different things ti analyze and you can actually be intrigued by it whether you are a business man or you would like to have a simple life. The photography portraits really good the contrast between the two worlds, however, it does not make you feel pity for Burt because you know from the begging what's important for him. A good biographical documentary for someone's who's willing to see two different sides of a successful story. I enjoyed it the whole time, the only thing I would have asked is a little more depth into Burts life but I understand the privacy of his thoughts and the mystery of his life is part of the enchant.

The film itself is a profile on Burt, the face, the man, the co-founder behind Burt's Bees. I enjoyed getting to know Burt and his love for nature, his dog, and his simple life. I myself don't think Burt is a complex man, but someone who does not buy into the corporate "crap" that Roxanne, his ex-partner/business partner has turned the company into. This film does a good job of juxtaposing Burt's relaxed composure to the corporate culture: neatness, bright energetic smiles, superficiality. I actually felt quite uncomfortable watching Burt in such environments. At times I felt sad for Burt. He looked displaced, detached and indifferent to the promotional tours/events; meanwhile, his counterparts are smiling wide as can be, nodding to everything he says, and ooohing and aweing to his every response. We understand very clearly that while he stands behind his brand, it has become another commodity on the market that he wants nothing to do with.But alas, this film is not about the company but about the man.

Greetings again from the darkness. I've said it many times - my expectations for documentaries are quite high. Either pick a side (ala Michael Moore) or tell the whole story. Anything less is a let down. That holds true even if your subject is a colorful curmudgeon with what might be an interesting back story.You are probably familiar with the Burt's Bees brand of personal care items. And you have probably noticed the bearded guy logo. Yes, that's the real Burt and director Jody Shapiro introduces us. Admittedly, I got caught up in the Burt show ... watching him bounce between his life of seclusion and minimalism in Maine and the near-rock star status he enjoys on a PR tour of Taiwan. It wasn't until afterwards that the holes and unanswered questions started piling up.The Burt Shavitz story traces his initial drop out from a promising photojournalism career in New York to selling jugs of honey from his truck on the side of the road. A chance meeting and initial attraction to single mom Roxanne Quimby brought ambition to Burt's quiet life and the next thing he knew, he was spending his days behind a desk helping run a company.Burt and Roxanne had a massive fallout after the company relocated to North Carolina and the movie only hints at the real reason. It also leaves open-ended the question of whether Roxanne shrewdly maneuvered the company away from Burt, and then later sold it for almost $1 billion to the Clorox company.It's pretty obvious Roxanne refused to participate and instead sent her son to answer questions. Because of this, the guts of the story are never determined. Instead, we follow Burt around as he fulfills his requirements to the company that he no longer owns. We don't get any details on his arrangement, who pays for his personal assistant, or what Burt thinks about the business side. Instead he ruminates about the importance of land, and how he lives a life without hot water or hardly any other of life's modern conveniences. Well, except for when he is staying in 4 star hotels while touring for the company. These contradictions are fascinating, but of course, go unexplored.Burt doesn't appear to be a very complex man, and it's easy to accept his words at face value. He is almost 80 years old and seems to be quite satisfied hanging out with his dog ... but he also gets a kick out of the recognition and applause from his promotional tours. With all of the unanswered questions, this would have been better served as an hour long "Biography".