The Beekeeper

January 8th, 2024

MOVIE: THE BEEKEEPER

STARRING: JASON STATHAM, EMMY RAVER-LAMPMAN, JOSH HUTCHERSON, JEREMY IRONS, PHYLICIA RASHAD, MINNIE DRIVER

DIRECTED BY: DAVID AYER

AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 ½ STARS (Out of 4)

We used to live in a world where Roger Ebert might complain about a film’s cartoon violence or parents feared that children would be influenced by what we saw at the movies. It’s not that those fears don’t still exist today, it’s that the reality outside the theater is such a bleak place, that we now get a delightful escape from a guy beating up ten men at a time. That escape is what you get from The Beekeeper because one thing is for certain, it’s never boring. It just might be the most outrageous action movie yet. Some may say we’ve gone too far, but director David Ayer throws everything into the cement mixer. From hand-to-hand fighting, explosions, tech-bro’s getting their comeuppance, political corruption, a secret society of trained killers, and one badass Jason Statham. There are highs and lows but the undeniable madness of The Beekeeper will have audiences buzzing.

Jason Statham plays Adam Clay, a simple man, living in the upstate Massachusetts farmhouse of Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad). He tends to his bee colony in the yard and keeps quiet to himself, but when a data-mining scam company takes all of Eloise’s life savings, it drives her to commit suicide. This prompts Adam to get revenge, revealing he’s part of a secret group of assassins known as The Beekeepers, and some powerful people have kicked the nest of a very bad man.

The title alone is hard to take seriously. The protection and care of bees doesn’t sound like a job for a tough guy but I think that’s the point. Written by Kurt Wimmer and directed by Ayer, The Beekeeper feels like the least Ayer of Ayer’s films. The director of End of Watch, Fury, and Suicide Squad moves away from gang life or superheroes and goes to nuts-and-bolts action. And that’s what pays off. Statham is perfect in the role, wearing all khaki, delivering lines with his stone-cold stare, and set on full-blown revenge. It’s part John Wick, part Dirty Harry, with plenty of bee-inspired one-liners.

The minor issues rest on two subplots, as Eloise’s daughter Veronica (Emmy Raver-Lampman) is the lead FBI agent on the case, along with comic relief partner Matt (Bobby Naderi). That bit runs stale fast, leaving you wondering what their purpose was, as they’re constantly one step behind. Although it’s convoluted, the bad guys, however, might be the best part. First, Statham saws through a few Barstool bros, on his way to get the sniveling and privileged Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson doing a whole lot with his part). He is aided by his protector and one-time CIA director Wallace Westwyld (Jeremy Irons, also having the most fun I think I’ve ever seen him have), who has connections with powerful people. As Statham saws through new goons, the story leads to an outrageous fight at a mansion, with his scorched earth approach offering loads of destruction.

Overall, the problems are relatively minimal, but it’s hard to let moments of oddly placed side characters, sections with too much editing, and low-budget set designs be acceptable. But it sure is a great moment of action escapism. It’s not a movie without flaws but if The Beekeeper is going to be the next big franchise after The Equalizer, John Wick, or Mission: Impossible then I am as happy as a bee in honey. Keep them coming Statham. I think you’re the bee’s knees.

THE BEEKEEPER IS PLAYING IN THEATERS THIS FRIDAY JANUARY 12TH, 2024. 

2 ½ STARS

Written by: Leo Brady
leo@amovieguy.com