The Beekeeper

• Directed by David Ayer
• January 12, 2024

When his kind landlady commits suicide after a phishing scam, a former government operative begins a violent campaign of revenge killing all those responsible.

I have heard The Beekeeper called a John Wick knockoff and I cannot argue too much with that. It switches out a few elements, but the bones of the story are more or less the same. Numerous movies are imitations of others but the important part is if they are good in the execution. Do they do something to make it a little special rather than some cheap copy?

Jason Statham carries on the one-man army, very nearly superhuman fighter tradition started in the 80s by the likes of Stallone and Schwarzenegger with a bit of iconic help from Norris. His style though is more in line though with that of Jean-Claude Van Damme. It is exciting and adrenaline pumping with the occasional bit of comedy thrown in.

The premise is that Statham is former government operative Adam Clay (though there is the hint THAT may not be his name) who was a Beekeeper. Beekeepers are trained killers that kill everything in their path until the problem is solved. Like an 80s action hero. Clay has become an actual beekeeper and is living a quiet life until his landlady (Phylicia Rashad) gets tricked by a phishing scam and is robbed blind leading her to commit suicide. Calling in a favor (all government operatives in movies have one they can use) he begins wiping out the organization behind the scammers which leads to some powerful people.

I love that this is balls to the wall violent action. Statham just tears through everybody exacting brutal vengeance. And the action is just fantastic. And there are plot reveals that makes sense as well as up the ante for a big feeling ending. This just hooks you in a way most action movies are afraid to do these days.

It begins with things generally disliked by the public at large. People hate call centers. People hate scammers. People hate call-center scammers. Who doesn’t want to see them get their asses handed to them by a one-man army? We all wish we could do it, but none of us can in reality. Jason Statham however can in this movie.

Our hero doesn’t get too much background other than he cares for his landlady. Adam is a man of very strong morality to the point of maybe even being a little unhinged. Not constrained by his role anymore he can act on right and wrong as he sees fit rather than simply acting on what others see as right and wrong. I dare say his biography is nearly a blank slate other than the tidbits we get setting him up as a killing machine.

Story elements are slowly revealed. The truth of the call center, the tools it uses, and even the douchebag (Josh Hutcherson) that owns it come out over time and not dropped in your lap. Not in any overtly brilliant way but it is not just handed to the audience. You need to watch to see where this criminal enterprise gets some of its resources and why they believe they are untouchable.

We get a good mix of imaginative and standard kills in The Beekeeper. On the one hand we have a gentleman who gets sent off a bridge while tied to a truck. On the other we have a guy that gets stabbed in the neck. That’s pretty much at least once an action movie these days. At least of the more violent nature.

There isn’t much story here. Jason Statham is getting ultimate revenge on whoever scammed his friend and caused her to commit suicide. The entertainment value comes from him killing his way up the chain. He just beats the crap out of individuals. He is cool and cold and pushing 60 at this point Statham still looks like he can beat the crap out of anybody unlike Steven Seagal who only puts fear into an all you can eat buffets and spray tan businesses.

What makes this work the best though is the significant lack of CGI. Statham IS the one kicking butt. The fight choreography is rapid and frenetic. And his opponents look like they have a good shot at beating him on some level in hand to hand combat yet given HIS stature and build you can believe he wins.

I love to see quality actors in movies like this. Nobody will ever win an Academy Award for something like this. Aside from Phylicia Rashad as Eloise Parker we get Minnie Driver as Director Janet Harward, Jemma Redgrave as President Jessica Danforth, and Jeremy Irons as Wallace Westwyld. An embarrassment of riches so to speak.

It’s violent and brutal and just plain down exciting. The Beekeeper is everything you want in an action movie. Maybe not complex but just so much fun. I highly recommend this one!