Jerry Seinfeld and DreamWorks “Bee Movie” is tracking to open somewhere around $40 million next weekend, but will it be one of the three nominees for Best Animated Picture? Paramount, as is their wont, hasn’t yet shown it to daily critics in New York (Kyle will have a review on Friday). But the middling reviews in the trades suggest Jerry won’t have to dry-clean his tux for the Kodak. “Amiable but no more, “Bee Movie” puts a hiveful of potent talent at the service of a zig-zigging, back-of-an-envelope story that’s short on surprise and originality,” harrumpsTodd McCarthy in Variety. “Long sought for animation work, producer-writer-star Jerry Seinfeld contents himself with whimsical notions and mild jokes in creating an independent-minded bee who breaks with protocol to forge a relationship with a human, to less than inspired results. Seinfeld’s name, a huge push by Paramount/DreamWorks Animation and venture’s mainstream innocuousness should combine for sweet if not blockbuster B.O.” Over at the Hollywood Reporter, it’s the aptly-named Kirk Honeycuttmaking with putdown puns: “Unfortunately, bees just aren’t that funny. They talk funny now and then thanks to that force of comedy, Jerry Seinfeld, who co-wrote, co-produced and stars in his first animated feature. But they aren’t intriguing cartoon creatures. Nor is the odd story Seinfeld and his collaborators dreamed up very inspired. The film labors too hard for its comic moments and never discovers a cartoon logic that will allow bees and humans to interact.” Ouch. As it happens, DreamWorks’ corporate parent, Paramount, is releasing another animated contender later next month, “Beowulf,” which features motion-capture performances by the likes of Angelina Jolie. Problem is the animation branch isn’t crazy about the technique; they didn’t nominate the creepy “The Polar Express,” Robert Zemeckis’ first motion-capture feature. There’s even a question whether the academy’s animation committee will qualify “Beowulf” — a decision is due next Monday. Smart money at this point says the three nomination will likely go to Pixar’s “Ratatouille,” Sony Pictures Classics’ black-and-white French import “Persopolis,” from a graphic novel, which has been wowing them on the festival circuit and opens in December; and… Fox’s “The Simpsons.” Says one expert on the category: “the guys in the animation branch grew up on ‘The Simpsons’ and worship Matt Groening.”