From David Ayer, the writer of “Training Day” and director of “End of Watch” and “Fury” comes the ultimate Jason Statham action film. In “The Beekeeper” the actor who rose to prominence with the “Transporter” series plays a retired secret operative who spends his time on a farm making honey. But when scum-sucking cyberthugs prey on his elderly landlord (Phylicia Rashad), our boy jumps back into action to burn their world to the ground faster than you can say “Pyromania”. Delivering a strong “Go pollinate yourself” message, the over-the-top storyline is loads of fun as Statham parodies himself to protect the hive.
Written by Kurt Wimmer who penned “Expend4bles,” “Street Kings,” and “Salt,” the story begins on a farm where Adam Clay (Statham) tends to his beehives, makes raw unfiltered honey, and drives around in a beat-up pickup, add a beer and you have a Blake Shelton song.
His landlord is Eloise Parker (Rashad), a nice, retired elderly lady who credits Clay with revitalizing the farm, “This place was crabgrass and weeds and you brought it back to life.” She falls victim to a phishing scam that begins by contacting a bogus call center after receiving a dreaded “Your computer has been infected” popup message. The cyber thieves empty all her bank accounts including two million dollars in a trust fund for a children’s charity. Ugh, those scumbags! Overtaken by grief, Eloise takes her own life.
“She was the only person who ever took care of me” comments Clay, letting the audience know the two had a familial bond. Forget about a deeper backstory, when Eloise’s daughter Verona (Emmy Raver-Lampman), aka FBI Special Agent Parker, arrives on the scene she believes Clay is a suspect in her mother’s death (not knowing about their relationship) until he’s cleared, and her death is ruled a suicide.
Armed with a couple of metal gas cans, Clay shows up at the call center responsible for draining his friend’s bank accounts and burns it to the ground, after taking out a bunch of security goons with his bare fists (which are surely “registered” as lethal weapons). He proceeds inside, torching the place after floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee while taking out more Men’s Wearhouse-outfitted reprobates who kicked the hornet’s nest.
Never in the history of Statham’s greatest HITS, has there been such satisfaction watching the English actor take down a slew of gun-toting scalawags commanded by the Gen Z bunch who bark orders like “Stomp his ass out” before being reduced to whimpering no-gooders after realizing Clay isn’t just pollen around.
Josh Hutcherson (“Five Nights at Freddy’s”) is perfectly cast as spoiled rich kid CEO Derek Danforth, who started the cybercriminal ring responsible for ripping off the elderly by using government software. His company UMD has call centers located all over the country, the FBI is aware of their activity but is unable to track down their locations. Danforth skateboards around the office when he’s not taking sound baths, the kind of guy who would be friends with Trent (played by Michael Cera), owner of the hipster PR Firm in “Dream Scenario.”
Statham’s Zen-like moments as a beekeeper tending the hive (which he learned to do for the film) indicate he’s a peaceful man. Part of the film’s running gag is the literal reference to his apiculturist occupation, but when Minnie Driver shows up as CIA Director Janet Harward who remarks, “A ‘Beekeeper’, beekeeper? Well, that’s not good” it’s obvious that “beekeeper” is code for a clandestine organization tasked with keeping the world safe. Let’s just say when you need someone to help maintain balance in society and you can’t us proper channels, who do you call? No, not the IMF (even more off the grid), you contact the Beekeepers.
Don’t worry, the film never takes itself too seriously, this is not “Mission: Impossible” and yes, it’s okay to laugh. “The Beekeeper” is like the “John Wick” franchise, custom-tailored to Statham’s special skillset, hand-to-hand combat. It doesn’t matter how many rapscallions our mild-mannered beekeeper is up against, you know somehow, he’s going to make it out okay. Ayer knows how to maintain the momentum between the thrilling action scenes that are so exaggerated that Statham gloriously becomes a parody of Jason Statham.
As a bonus, we get Oscar, Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, and Tony-winning actor Jeremy Irons as retired CIA Director Wallace Westwyld who spends his time babysitting Hutcherson’s spoiled brat Derek Danforth as a favor to Danforth family matriarch Jessica (Jemma Redgrave) whose identity is revealed in the third act at which point the film jumps the rails among a bevy of CIA, FBI, Secret Service, and mercenaries who can’t keep their beeswax out of Clay’s face. They discover his sting is worse than their bite.
The film’s standout moments include the colorful foes Clay comes up against, the best being current Beekeeper Anisette played by actor and stunt performer Megan Le. She dresses like Prince and drives around with a Minigun mounted in the back of her truck. Talk about road rage. The unhinged assassin is ready to wipe out buildings, vehicles, and anything else that stands in her way.
“The Beekeeper” could be the start of a new franchise for Jason Statham. It’s a fun, thrilling, and extremely satisfying ride. The only way this film could have been more enjoyable would be the appearance of Ginger, Mary Ann, and Mrs. Howell as The Honeybees pop-group-turned-assassins who belt out “You Need Us” before going “Kill Bill” on anyone who stands in their way.