‘The Beekeeper’ Review #2
Stars: Jason Statham, Phylicia Rashad, Josh Hutcherson, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jemma Redgrave, Minnie Driver, Jeremy Irons | Written by Kurt Wimmer | Directed by David Ayer
Discounting the Fast and the Furious franchise, I really enjoy Jason Statham’s films. He has an incredible talent for playing the most ridiculous situations straight, with his deadpan, growling voice. The mix of him being serious plus utterly silly situations makes for extremely fun films (albeit The Meg was a disappointment).
He is also brilliant at the physical aspect of the films. I am sure he has stuntmen, but along with Keanu Reeves, he is one of my favourite action stars working today. He has cornered a market, that other actors might turn their nose up at, or most likely you would get the impression they were “in on the joke”. Statham does not do this, and it is to his great credit.
Surely Statham would be a great shout for the next Bond? He is no Roger Moore, but he would be good value.
Did you know that beekeepers (i.e. apiculturists) are super-secret special operatives? Jason Statham’s character is one such (albeit retired) beekeeper. He has a friend/landlady, the retired executive from a charity – a sweet old lady, who spent her whole life, giving to sick kids, and yet somehow has $2,000,000 sitting in a bank account!
The fanciest call centre in the world, which is dedicated to scamming people out of their money, steals the $2,000,000. The lovely old, rich woman then takes her own life. Unfortunately for the side of the angels, these call centres are US-based, in fancy high-rise offices, and it turns out they are incredibly well connected, and thus impossible for anyone to touch. Except by a (retired) beekeeper. He is going to do what is best for the hive.
What follows is a riotous mix of people talking about bees, hives, hornets and “queen slayer bees” whilst Jason Statham beats and shoots the living daylights out of any number of special forces people (he beats up and disables the misled law enforcement ones, and murders the bad ones).
Naturally, he burns down one call centre that was not backed up to the cloud. Which leads to an escalation in the intensity and size of the fights.
Jeremy Irons is somehow here, as a sort of father figure to the baddie. He is a lot of fun. Wearing expensive suits and explaining to the baddie that a beekeeper is John Wick times ten. The baddie is a slightly miscast Josh Hutcherson (the block of wood called Peeta in The Hunger Games films). Jeremy Irons in the connected ex-FBI director who hires a series of fun baddies for the beekeeper to effortlessly take out. Some of which sport funny hats. The final baddie is a bit rubbish, but some ripe South African accents, more than make up for this in the baddies’ underlings.
On a fundamental level, this film is a smashing success. If you like the idea of bee puns, and punching, you will have a good time here. If you think that sounds not for you, it is unlikely to change your mind.
The Beekeeper is un-bee-lievable.
