We’re only two weeks into 2024 and already have a blockbuster action flick on our hands. However you may feel about Jason Statham, it’s about to change. If you already like him, you’re going to love him. If you can’t stand him or think he’s overrated, you will change your tune after this film!
Directed by David Ayer, The Beekeeper follows Adam Clay (Jason Statham) as he goes on a one-man campaign of vengeance after his elderly neighbor is swindled out of her entire financial existence. Ms. Parker (Phylicia Rashad) was like a mother to Clay and he took it personally that anyone would prey on society’s most vulnerable. All that anyone knows about Clay is that he’s a beekeeper, but as it turns out, he belongs to a secret organization of the same name. Beekeepers are highly skilled and feared by everyone, including the FBI. As tragedy continues to spawn day after day, Agent Verona Parker (Emmy Raver-Lampman) is on the scene but can’t keep up with the likes of Clay.
The film is an hour and 45 minutes of action and hilarity as Statham executes unconscionable combat techniques and one-liners. Within that hour and 45 minutes, you won’t experience any shortage of bee-related metaphors. But with a cast that also includes Jeremy Irons and Josh Hutcherson, everything fits together well in the end… like a honeycomb (couldn’t help myself).
The film starts with an attention-grabbing event: a defenseless senior gets taken advantage of by a hacker. This was good, in the fact that practically everyone could relate that they wouldn’t want this to happen to them. A pop-up on Ms. Parker’s computer led to a phone call, which led to shoddy instructions, and before she knew it, her entire life was ruined in less than 10 minutes.
On a serious note, everything that Statham does in this film is ridiculously outlandish, but it’s extremely entertaining. I’m talking entertaining to the point where I’m ready to buy this movie the second it’s available for purchase. There’s humor that you wouldn’t expect, it’s loaded with action, and the characters were perfect. Raver-Lampman was an amazing, smart-aleck FBI agent, Jeremy Irons was a brilliant distinguished retiree, and Mr. Hunger Games himself (Josh Hutcherson) was a hilarious prick of a rich kid who ran a scammy business.
The writers for this were very serious about educating the masses about bees. Bees are essential to life and beekeepers are essential to bees. As explained in the film, the way that a queen, drone, or worker bee co-exist and thrive in a well-maintained hive, so do people thrive in a lawful and just society. So when a system is thrown out of order by corruption and greed, you would need (drumroll)… A Beekeeper.
The Beekeeper gets a 9 out of 10. The fight sequences are awesome and the dialogue is hilarious. This is what a fun night out at the movies is all about. Every actor was perfect for their role and I have to say it again, it was way funnier than I anticipated.
The Beekeeper will hit theaters on Friday, Jan. 12.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of MGM Pictures Inc.