The Beekeeper (2024)

The Beekeeper (2024)

3/10

 Starring

Jason Statham

Emmy Raver-Lampman

Josh Hutcherson

Bobby Naderi

 

Directed by David Ayer

The Beekeeper is a Jason Statham action film that delivers exactly what his fans have come to expect: intense fight sequences, implausible feats, and a lot of over-the-top bravado. However, don’t let its flashy presentation or the actor's star power fool you this movie falls short in almost every other aspect.

The dialogue is painfully bad, often feeling as though it was cobbled together by chance, like letting a monkey loose on a typewriter, rather than intent which you will expect from a prolific film writer. The script’s overuse of bee-related terms like "bees," "beehives," and "beekeeper" is relentless and eye rolling. They shoehorned these words into almost every conversation, which then made you feel like screaming and making the movie look silly, repetitive and unintentionally comedic.

The film plot is not manageable, and the execution is laughable. The plot is centered on retired "beekeeper" Adam Clay (played by Statham). In this world, beekeepers are elite killers created by the U.S. government to handle covert or unmanageable situations. Adam, now retired and tending to bees in solitude, is drawn back into action when his friend and neighbor tragically takes her life after being scammed. This sparks Adam's quest for vengeance as he hunts down and takes out those responsible. The premise, while promising some emotional stakes, fails to deliver due to poor execution.

The action sequences are classic Statham, he strolls into a room full of men with guns, and suddenly he has the ability to dodge every bullet and take down everyone with absurd ease. While entertaining at times, the sheer invincibility of his character renders most conflicts predictable and, eventually, tiresome.

I understand that he must be a top-notch unstoppable guy, but there is a point when it started to look ridiculous. It got to a point where his replacement (someone supposedly as good as he is and should be able to stop him) was dealt with, with ease, like pushing over a crying two-year-old.

The movie’s serious tone clashes with its outlandish narrative, making it difficult to invest in the story. Even moments that should feel climactic or emotionally charged are overshadowed by the nonsensical plot and poorly written characters. Despite this, the film seems intent on setting up a sequel, hinting at even more outrageous antics for Adam Clay in the future.

In the end, the film sets itself up for a second part, with many more insane things for Statham’s character to do. With the kind of money it made from the release, I believe a second part will not be far away from production.