“Beekeeper” is just a fun ride, very entertaining and engaging. It is a very kinetic and enjoyable flick. This action-thriller is directed by David Ayer, who called the shots on “Fury” starring Brad Pitt in 2014.
The story kicks off when Adam Clay’s (Jason Statham) friend and confidant Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad) dies suddenly under extenuating circumstances. Clay, the title character, turns to violence for a purpose because Eloise took Clay in when he was down and out.
Clay is a real beekeeper. He tends the hive and makes sure things are going on for the bees’ purpose. In an almost instantaneous turnaround, he unleashes his revenge on bad people of the world. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger said in “True Lies,” “They were all bad.” It all comes down to one per- son who started all the chaos. But “The Beekeeper” doesn’t get to that person right away. There are a lot of wackos in the mix to deal with first. Ayer is a director who knows how to capture the action. He knows where to place his camera for the ultimate impact. Kurt Wimmer, one of the co-producers, also produced “Equilibrium” with Christian Bale and Emily Watson in 2002.
Statham was also in “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre,” one of my Top 10 movies last year. He has a knack for just being a great action hero. He’s sort of old school, like Bruce Willis in the “Die Hard” actioners. The audience just seems to enjoy being around Statham, as they did Willis.
For movie fans with one eye on politics, “The Beekeeper” features a female president of the United States played by Jemma Redgrave. Part of the story involves the fact that the murder victim’s daughter Verona Parker (Emmy Raver-Lampman) just happens to be an FBI agent.
I can see this becoming a series of movies. It was No. 1 at the box office on opening week-end with a reported $37.1 million worldwide, proving that even older action heroes can still bring in the audience. You’ll be smiling with your friends later discussing this action-packed thriller that has a lot of unexpected turns and inventive action.
Grade: B
