Jason Statham's 'The Beekeeper' should have had more fun than seriousness

Jason Statham is one of the most recognisable action stars in Hollywood. Whenever his name appears in a film, that film is most likely to be an extravaganza of brutal action and thriller. 

He is back with his first action film in 2024 after Expend4bles, The Beekeeper. This action film should be a simple, fun one, but director David Ayer decided to make it serious.

The film introduces Jason Statham as Adam Clay, who is no ordinary beekeeper. He is a lethal force with a mysterious past, having worked as a commando before. His tranquil life takes a dark turn when his surrogate mother, Eloise Parker, falls victim to an online scam. 

Eloise's tragic encounter with a phishing scam becomes the catalyst for Adam's transformation from a peaceful apiarist into a relentless avenger. As he arms himself and navigates the criminal underworld, the film explores themes of justice, morality, and the grey zone between right and wrong.

While The Beekeeper demonstrates Statham's prowess as an action star, it fails in coherence and pacing. The secondary plot involving Eloise's daughter, Verona Parker (Emmy Raver-Lampman), and her FBI partner, Matt Wiley (Bobby Naderi), feels unnecessary, diverting attention from the central narrative. 

The film loses its focus midway, missing the opportunity to be the trashy masterpiece it hints at initially.

The film's ambitious conspiracy narrative introduces elements of political intrigue, portraying a web of corruption reaching the highest echelons of power. 

However, the film avoids making bold statements about systemic corruption, opting for a conventional resolution. This narrative choice weakens the film's potential impact, leaving audiences craving a bold exploration of societal flaws.

Nevertheless, Statham's compelling portrayal and well-crafted action sequences make The Beekeeper entertaining. Ayer's direction presents a unique blend of humour and ultra-violence, reminiscent of classic action films of the 1990s. The film indulges in its absurdity, with Statham's deadpan delivery of lines like "I believe there's good in the universe" adding a layer of charm to the character. The Beekeeper had the potential to be a successful action film with a dash of humour, but David Ayer decided to make Adam Clay a cold-blooded, serious character. That made the film look like a B-grade action flick, not an A-grade action comedy.

The Beekeeper finds its niche in the post-John Wick era, where action films embrace over-the-top violence and stylised choreography. Adam Clay, a beekeeper-turned-vigilante, offers a cathartic fantasy of justice served against white-collar criminals. The film might not be the ridiculous action thriller it aspires to be, but it delivers entertainment. For the first blockbuster action film of 2024, the audience can buckle up for a bewildering cinematic experience.

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