Cert – 15, Run-time – 1 hour 45 minutes, Director – David Ayer
When an elderly friend (Phylicia Rashad) falls victim to an online scam a retired, off-books government agent (Jason Statham) takes revenge, climbing the ladder of the company’s hierarchy before they, or the FBI, can catch up with him.
Jason Statham’s beekeeper goes by the name of Adam Clay. He lives out his days looking after bees, and occasionally removing hornet nests from the property of the elderly woman he rents a barn from. He’s moved on from his days as an off-the-books government agent, known as a Beekeeper. However, when Eloise (Phylicia Rashad) commits suicide after falling victim to an online scam Clay takes it upon himself to get revenge, or as he puts it “protect the hive”. An unstoppable force climbing up the hierarchical ladder of the companies connected to the scam, reaching the so-called untouchable, while his occasionally American accent – it’s understated that Statham has “a hint of British Isles” in his voice – might wobble the film generally keeps itself afloat, to some surprise.
Going from feeling inspired by recent YouTube crazes of ‘scammer payback’ videos and as if adapted from a short film, The Beekeeper grows stronger and more aware of itself the longer it goes on. Largely helped by more frequent action sequences, themselves aware of the film they’re making and bringing a slight sense of humour to the proceedings. A jar of honey is used as a weapon against a rotary gun causing destruction to a petrol station. It all contributes to more excusing of otherwise clunky lines of dialogue as certain elements begin to be seen as satirical – a young head of a call centre tries to desperately bribe Statham with NFTs and cryptocurrency.
There’s a wince-inducing aspect to just how far some of the violence goes. This is a film that doesn’t hold back on lingering on a body or injury, or fleshing out a fight with some injured flesh. The nature of the action goes unconflicted with the more humorous patches due to the fact that much of the film presents an air of balanced seriousness, at least in terms of its dead-pan protagonist – part of what brings a knowing feeling to his lines about protecting the hive.
The Beekeeper may prove somewhat divisive, and certainly to some it may simply come across as cheesy and unaware of itself. However, if you find a sense of satire and slight humour within it there’s an enjoyable piece of work here – particularly as the punchy action sequences become more frequent, and even punchier as Statham’s character gets even closer to his personal goal. The film knows what it wants to do and once things are finally set in, after an explosion or two, then there’s something rather enjoyable to sit back and be entertained by. From both the action and the silliness, this is a film about a beekeeper who was once a Beekeeper, and it knows it.
Once over some initial hesitation, once built up The Beekeeper lets loose and lets out stronger, more frequent action with a knowing feeling as to its occasional silliness and patchy dialogue, which it just about gets away with thanks to its tone.
Just A Little Bit Random 