[Note: This review will discuss elements of The Beekeeper that were revealed in promotional material, such as trailers. If you’re someone who enjoys going into recent TV shows knowing as little as possible, you may want to skip reading this review.]
John Wick has been a key inspiration for many action films over the last few years.
The biggest reason the Keanu Reeves-led franchise has been so popular is because of its violent yet creative action sequences. Watching Wick shoot his way through countless opponents while also shooting off one-liners has become a key influence in modern action movies. This is especially true for films that try and put a twist on the idea of the action hero. Instead of being an average person or someone with military experience, these new action heroes are oftentimes part of clandestine organizations that don’t really exist. However, it gives writers a chance to do some creative worldbuilding while also unleashing a barrage of popcorn violence on the screen for 90 to 120 minutes.
Enter The Beekeeper, a new action film starring Jason Statham and directed by David Ayer, best known for his films Fury, Suicide Squad, and Bright. The setup for this particular action film is very reminiscent of John Wick. To the point where, by just replacing a few names in the movie, the first half could easily replicate the sentence “John Wick but he’s a beekeeper.” While living a life of retirement as a beekeeper, Statham’s Adam Clay is pulled back into action of his own volition after his friend Eloise Parker kills herself. The suicide was influenced by a phishing scam robbing her and her charity of all monetary assets. As it turns out, not only is Adam a beekeeper, but a Beekeeper—a member of a now-downsized government organization of peacekeepers who deliver justice through violence. Contending with an unfolding conspiracy and the law on his tail, Adam begins to enact his version of payback, one body at a time.
The most notable aspect of this movie is that its story is a healthy mix of John Wick and ‘90s action entertainment. There aren’t too many memorable and impressive kills like the Wick films, and the structure of the story can sometimes feel too much like the first movie in that series. However, in spite of a story that feels very much like it was lifted from that franchise, The Beekeeper stands out by introducing unique elements as it progresses. That is to say, the stakes grow very high, very quickly, in very unexpected ways. This approach to the film’s plot helped to bolster not only Statham, but other important characters throughout the movie too. While I initially wasn’t big on a storyline involving Eloise’s daughter, FBI Agent Verona Parker (Emma Raver-Lampman), her role in the movie grew on me in the second half. It was a welcome surprise to have more to the film than just Statham’s character, which I think worked in its favor.
The action wasn’t anything too special, but it was exciting to watch nonetheless. What’s interesting is that, for the most part, Adam doesn’t use guns or projectile weapons to get the job done. Opting for a hands-on approach, this adds tension to a multitude of scenes where villains are wielding guns despite Statham going without. It indicates just how creative the character has to get with the tools in his vicinity to dispatch of the enemies sent his way. Of which there are many, all of whom die or are knocked out in unique ways. Sometimes the violence borders on goofy, embracing the idea of a beekeeper going around killing people in acts of revenge. However, this goofiness helps to make the film all the more entertaining—especially the number of bee-related puns buzzing about.
If I had to criticize the movie in any way, there are two small points I can think of. While it’s fine that the first half of the film plays out essentially the same as the first half of John Wick, the classic setup isn’t anything new regardless. However, it sets a tone and expectations for the movie that end up getting twisted into something else by the halfway mark. This isn’t a bad thing, as I believe the second half of the movie is much stronger than the first. But there is that whiplash of having to get used to a new form of presentation that almost makes the film feel like it has a different premise entirely. Even so, I’m remiss to spoil it here, given how big of a change it is and how wild it makes the story as it progresses from that point. The only reason to point it out is that it does make the film feel like two different movies. Though it manages to stick the landing by the end.
The second small point is the movie’s lack of character focus. While Adam and Verona are the focal points of their particular scenes, there are parts of the movie where other characters get the spotlight for seemingly no reason. It makes sense for some, like Josh Hutcherson’s Derek or Jeremy Irons’ Wallace, to have key moments. They are, after all, antagonists within the story. However, some of their smaller scenes add little to the overall movie. The same goes for a scene involving a manager for a phone scam, who for whatever reason gets a mini-arc where he frustratedly tries to get protective forces hired by Wallace to go away. While this could have made for a short scene to establish the next action sequence, it took up much more time than was necessary. Scenes like this are littered throughout the movie here and there, making me wonder if they were added just to pad out the runtime. These portions took me out of the experience, especially since they almost always immediately preceded major action sequences.
Despite some of these flaws, The Beekeeper was a highly entertaining movie that delivered on the promise of its premise. It’s not as bloody or choreographed as John Wick, and the first half of the movie may feel like a retread of the first film in that franchise. But once the second half of the movie kicks in and the stakes rise to unbeelievable, near-parody levels, the film acknowledges the fun action flick it is without an ounce of irony. The way it was presented made for a fun time, which will no doubt be a memorable experience if you decide to watch it in theaters.
Make sure to brush up on your bee knowledge first, though, so you can better appreciate the jokes.
***
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