After losing someone close to him, a former government operative, Adam Clay (Jason Statham) goes on a tear of vengeance to ensure that the same things don’t happen to millions of other innocent people. He will face some of the country’s most powerful and brutal individuals, but is determined to protect the hive. Adam Clay is The Beekeeper.
Known for his roles in ridiculous films such as Hobbs & Shaw and Crank, Statham was likely to find himself part of another film with a ridiculous plot, subpar acting (while not necessarily from him), and not much to entertain its audiences. Director David Ayer, however, managed to bring to life a film that does a relatively good job of entertaining from beginning to end. Viewers are given a rooting preference in the early going, and that gives us something to hold onto throughout the duration of The Beekeeper. The primary plot of the film, the one in which Adam is tasked with taking down a massive organization that exploits the weak, is incredibly interesting, and, again, Ayer, and Writer Kurt Wimmer, do a spectacular job of quickly developing the relationship between Adam and Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad). The other aspects of the plot, however, are a tad far fetched, a tad too convenient to warrant a real reaction from viewers. The narrative competes with one another constantly throughout the course of The Beekeeper, and while aspects of the good often reign supreme, there are a series of moments that are terribly frustrating.
Statham has become an action hero of sorts, and The Beekeeper allows him to showcase his skills, but the choreography of most of the fight sequences are absurd. They are fun for sure, and they are often high octane, requiring some attention from viewers and certainly entertaining them along the way. However, some of the moves scripted for Statham are absurd, unlikely, and a tad frustrating as a result. I’m no expert on hand-to-hand combat, but some of the things that I saw throughout The Beekeeper seemed unlikely, and those instances turned me off from time to time.
The Beekeeper isn’t meant to be artistic, it isn’t meant to tickle the fancy of a cinephile–but there is one moment toward the end of the film where sound comes into play–and it’s beautiful. In the final fight scene the score subsides, disappears entirely, and the sound of Adam and his foe as they fight to the death becomes the primary focus. At this point in the film viewers are pulled into the action, even more so than they had been before–and we are forced to focus on Adam’s every move as The Beekeeper is propelled forward. I was in awe of this moment (even with the silliness that existed in the choreography once again). Again, The Beekeeper isn’t meant to be artistic in any way, but it achieves some level of greatness in its closing moments.
If you’re looking for a fun way to escape from a repetitive reality, The Beekeeper will certainly transport you somewhere entertaining and enjoyable. If you’re looking for an artistic piece that will move you, you’re barking up the wrong tree. The Beekeeper is meant for entertainment purposes only, and it certainly achieves that. With some over-the-top characters/acting, some incredibly convenient plot devices, and underwhelming choreography–the film lacks the ability to truly be great. Honestly, though, I was far more entertained than I believed that I would be, and by the time I had left the theater I was happy that I had gone.
Directed by David Ayer.
Written by Kurt Wimmer.
Starring Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, David Watts, Michael Epp, Taylor James, Phylicia Rashad, Jemma Redgrave, Minnie Driver, Don Gilet, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE
