Summary

The Beekeeper is a high-octane action flick with expertly staged fight sequences and an aloof, slick performance by Jason Statham. Statham’s character, Mr. Clay, is a lethal one-man show who brings surprise and fun to the plot with his open and thrilling plans. The film’s absurdity adds to its entertainment value, with comical moments and imaginative use of objects in action sequences, making it a truly engaging and enjoyable ride.

When it comes to action movies, Jason Statham is a reliable source, and The Beekeeper is no exception. The actor, whose comedic chops have been less utilized than his ability to punch someone in the face, teams up with director David Ayer and writer Kurt Wimmer to deliver a non-stop action flick that is high on adrenaline. With expertly staged fight sequences, an aloof and extremely slick Statham fights his way through highly trained agents at every level to protect the beehive. The Beekeeper may be your run-of-the-mill revenge film, but it’s got a dash of style, fascinating exchanges, and exciting action set pieces.

The Beekeeper The Beekeeper is a 2024 action-thriller film by director David Ayer. Jason Statham stars as “Mr. Clay,” a former member of a secret organization known as the “Beekeepers,” who steps back into the field after a close friend is wronged in a phishing scam. To set things right, Mr. Clay will wage a violent war as he discovers that the truth behind the scammers may be more sinister than he realized. Release Date January 12, 2024 Director David Ayer Cast Jason Statham , Emmy Raver-Lampman , Josh Hutcherson , Bobby Naderi , Minnie Driver , Phylicia Rashad , Jeremy Irons Rating R Writers Kurt Wimmer Studio(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , MiraMax , Cedar Park Studios , Punch Palace Productions Distributor(s) Amazon MGM Studios

To say Statham’s Adam Clay is operating on a level all his own would be an understatement. Clay, a retired government agent who trained in the secretive Beekeeper program, is an unstoppable one-man show. The Beekeeper opens with Clay, now an actual beekeeper, exchanging pleasantries with Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad), a kindly woman from whom Clay rents out a barn to house his bees. It’s a simple scene, but it grounds the rest of the movie while showcasing what kindness can do for Clay, who was never taken care of by anyone. It’s a shallow setup, but it works.

The Beekeeper is also quite absurd. This isn’t a knock against the film in the slightest; rather, it’s quite fun because it’s all so ridiculous.

The Beekeeper’s Action Is Jason Statham At His Best

The moment is the calm before the storm before all hell breaks loose, and Clay starts dropping bodies. Clay is unhinged. He’s lethal, precise, and open about his plans, and it’s thrilling to watch him saunter up to different groups — be it federal agents or security personnel — and tell them he’s going to burn a building down. These elements add a bit of surprise and fun to an otherwise straightforward film, and I found myself waiting for Clay’s next move with glee, since they brought a fair amount of levity to a plot that would have failed had it taken itself too seriously.

And while Statham hasn’t taken a break from being an action star, he hasn’t been in many films (beyond Wrath of Man) that really showed off his nimbleness as an action hero in recent years. To that end, The Beekeeper is a return to form for Statham, who takes center stage and carries the fight scenes as though his life depends on it. Action sequences can get rather boring when they solely involve guns, but Ayer’s film is more dynamic than that, and Statham dukes it out in hand-to-hand combat to great success.

Often, Clay fights fully armed men with nothing but his hands and bravado. The occasional weapon is used, but it’s always implemented in a far more imaginative manner — in one instance, Clay throws a honey jar at someone’s head to disarm him. It’s a clever way to involve objects and setting while simultaneously eliciting a couple of laughs. In terms of action, Statham gets the most to do, while Emmy Raver-Lampman’s Agent Verona Parker is stuck with hunting Clay, usually arriving after the action is over. Still, she and Clay have an intriguing dynamic that is held together by the love shared for Verona’s mother, Eloise.

The Beekeeper Is Fun Thanks To Its Absurdity

The story is extremely thin, as are the characters, but they’re no less intriguing. The script brings the various threads together to make it believable despite the chaos. The Beekeeper is also quite absurd. This isn’t a knock against the film in the slightest; rather, it’s quite fun because it’s all so ridiculous. Clay waltzing up to a team of FBI agents like it’s no big deal while they look on blankly before recognizing he’s their target is downright comical. There’s no end to wildly entertaining moments like this, though it perhaps helps to watch it with an audience that’s up for the shenanigans like I was.

The Beekeeper is an engaging ride, and once the action starts it never lets up. Statham is at home in his role as Clay, and he seems to enjoy playing with the subtle humor and power his character has over others. The action set pieces can be exhilarating, and Clay’s mission firmly holds the film together despite a lack of narrative and character depth. Ayer’s film isn’t so rigid that he can’t have a party with the material, and the entire filmmaking team proves they’re up to the task of delivering the amusement required to enjoy it.