The Beekeeper

Directed by David Ayer, The Beekeeper follows a retired operative (Jason Statham’s Adam Clay) as he embarks on a campaign of revenge after hackers steal a friend’s (Phylicia Rashad’s Eloise) life savings. It’s a familiar premise that’s employed to somewhat erratic yet mostly entertaining effect by Ayer, as the filmmaker, working from a script by Kurt Wimmer, does a terrific job of initially luring the viewer into the progressively hit-and-miss proceedings – with the revenge-fueled opening stretch certainly as satisfying and violent as one might’ve hoped. (And it doesn’t hurt, certainly, that Statham turns in a predictably magnetic and compelling performance.) There’s little doubt, then, that The Beekeeper‘s impact and forward momentum is affected by a midsection that curiously (and needlessly) takes the emphasis off Statham’s menacing figure, and it’s clear, too, that the inclusion of tiresome John Wick-like elements revolving around Clay’s mysterious organization contributes little to the picture’s overall impact and effectiveness – although it’s equally apparent that such concerns are rendered moot by the fairly electrifying climax that boasts a terrific, brutal fight between Clay and an arrogant goon. The end result is a decent-enough actioner that feels like it could and should be so much better, and yet it’s impossible to deny that The Beekeeper contains its fair share of engrossing moments (as well as that magnetic Statham turn).

*** out of ****