Action films have recently become so generic that the majority of new releases recycle the same structure and pattern from similar films, making it harder to remember that one particular film you watched. John Wick and Taken are films that more or less started this wave, with a dozen or so Liam Neeson action thrillers, “Geriatric-led” films from people such as Sylvester Stallone and then you have the revenge plot thrillers. Another action star that fits into this category is Jason Statham. With big franchises such as Fast & Furious, The Meg and The Expendables under his belt it appears he has reached the infamous and unofficial status of a modern action hero, which brings us to his latest film The Beekeeper.
The Beekeeper is brought to life by filmmaker David Ayer who has made some fantastic action films, and yes that includes the Suicide Squad film he made. End of Watch, Fury and Bright are all unique and very different action films with an edge, whether it is on the streets, war-centric or modern fantasy. The Beekeeper then you would assume would also have an edge, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The Beekeeper on the outside seems like another generic action revenge thriller, but luckily there is a little bit more to it than that.
The Beekeeper sees Jason Statham as Adam Clay, a retired secret agent of Beekeepers who is also actually a Beekeeper who tends to bees in his garden, and he forces himself out of retirement after the suicide of his lovely elderly neighbour. What ensues is a personal mission to find the company that scammed his neighbour and stole all her money. The film is then a few hours of a John Wick style revenge mission. People who know about the “Beekeepers” know how dangerous Clay is, and others learn about his skill set and his history along the way.
The Beekeeper may sound tedious and extremely chaotic but it is actually more engaging than I was expecting. Be prepared for a lot of bee jokes and bee puns that are littered throughout the film with lines such as “protecting the hive” and “killing the queen bee”. It does seem purposefully built into the DNA and story of the film with all the bee-like analogies, and it feels like the title came before the script was written. When the action kicks in though you are invested in the story. Josh Hutcherson, Minnie Driver and Doctor Who actress Jemma Redgrave all play against type, except for Jeremy Irons even though he does deliver quite possibly the best line ever in an action film. Seeing these characters and the story unfold is a joy and it is entertaining. The film is not perfect but for an action film fan there is plenty to enjoy, and thankfully there is no sequel baiting and it is a fully self-contained story.
The Beekeeper shows Jason Statham doing what he does best. There are moments where he acts like a complete badass, and then you see him cracking jokes and being less serious. With this being Jason Statham, it flows into the film very fluidly and makes his presence on the screen all the more enjoyable. The plot is very outlandish, but the phishing company angle makes it relatable and stands out from the rest of the action film wave that has recently hit cinemas. The Beekeeper isn’t going to have a huge legacy, but it will stand out amongst Statham’s over films as something creative, fun and highly entertaining.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Final Verdict:
The Beekeeper has its flaws, and it is the usual ones that come with the action genre. There are over-the-top scenes, some silly scenes and some “what did I just watch?” scenes - both in a good way and a bad way. Thankfully Statham sells the story to us with a heartfelt beginning and a very satisfying ending. You better “bee” prepared for all the buzzy jokes and puns, but if you can get past all that then I am sure you will have a good time watching this particular film.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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