Jason Statham Strikes again! I don't think he gets enough credit for his acting, people need to be reminded of his roles in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, as well as Snatch! Both Guy Ritchie movies and a brilliant springboard for his "Action" career which started with The Transporter. Statham has been in the limelight for more than 26 years, and while this current outing may not be on par with Snatch, it sure as hell is a ton of fun (and a lot more entertaining than Expendables 4).
And since The Beekeeper scored a big win at the box office, earning almost $153 Million worldwide, almost 4 times its budget, I'm certain we will be seeing more of our Protagonist Adam Clay. It would appear that regardless of the John Wick DNA, a sequel is sure to follow.
In case you haven't seen The Beekeeper, here we go:
Jason Statham stars in "The Beekeeper," a heart-pounding action-thriller about a mysterious Beekeeper. Adam Clay (Statham), a former operative of a powerful organization known as Beekeepers, upends his covert life and embarks on a brutal revenge mission to dismantle corruption at the highest levels of our society.
A straightforward plot that sparks a non-stop action-thrill ride. There is little setup at the outset of the movie. Like the action movies of the Golden Age (the 80s of course), honey hits the fan almost immediately with a heinous cyber-crime, stealing the life savings of Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad) the kindly old woman from whom Statham rents the barn for his honey "business". Eloise, in a fit of despair, commits suicide and sets off the revenge machine, from which no one is safe (luckily for us).
Honestly, there's a ton of fun to be had here, even with the heavy-handed bee themes. Our man Clay is "Protecting the Hive" or "Smoking out the Hornets", even in the beginning of the film, Clay is seen quietly and efficiently removing a massive hornet's nest, quickly dispatching them in a needless and over-the-top manner. Let's just say you will never look at a Taser and a fluorescent bulb the same way again.
After a brief encounter with Eloise's FBI Daughter, Verona (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Clay is free to run amok, quickly rooting out the location of the call center where the crime originated. Luckily, it was close by, so it made it easy for him to mercilessly kick the hell out of the bad guys, and even blow up the office building. It isn't Nakatomi Plaza, but it is certainly satisfying, especially if anyone ever dealt with a pushy telemarketer, or worse, worked in a call center, you know how deeply satisfying this scene can be.
Clay Kicks the "Hornet's Nest" and the bad guys almost immediately find the remote farm where he lives (and I mean IMMEDIATELY), which is surprisingly sloppy for a highly trained and expert government assassin, but he's been retired for a minute so cut him some slack. Anyway, what follows is an action-packed 1hr and 45-minute ride, that sees Clay traveling from set-piece to set-piece, of over-the-top violence and will satisfy your John Wick cravings.
Just like other Statham films, the fight choreography is excellent, and I was continuously impressed with the level of physicality in the stunts, you will know what I mean especially with the elevator sequence, as well as the "shotgun" scene that is cringe-inducing, particularly if dental trauma makes you recoil (just brutal).
The 4K set is a solid release, with a Native 4K (2160p) resolution and a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Minute details are sharp and clean and colors are vibrant. The Dolby Atmos audio is also excellent with layered ambient noise and crisp dialogue throughout. Sadly, the combo pack doesn't have any extras.
The movie looks great, from the bucolic, and peaceful Parker farm, to the "Villain's" mansion, the 4k looks fantastic. Even the dark halls where Clay is picking off the hired guns of the Delta and SEAL Team - "Pussies" as Former CIA and in-house corporate security officer, Wallace Westwyld (Jeremy Irons) so eloquently puts it. You will grow to appreciate the tactile feel of the film.
Let's pause a second to celebrate the sound as well, gunfire, explosions, more gunfire, screams of the injured and dying, more gunfire, oh, and let's not forget the sound of a band saw slicing off fingers. There is the glorious sound of gore throughout this movie. You will not be disappointed.
What little dialog we do have in this one is relegated to witty repartee and quick quips from the cast. Let's face it, you aren't here for profoundly introspective character development.
Oh, and did I mention the gunfire?
This film is sure to please the action junkies out there. Yes, this film is not going to win any awards for originality, or brilliant acting, but that is not the movie's focus. They set out to make a fun and damn entertaining action movie, and while it wears its influences on its sleeve, it provides just the right blend of stings and sweetness for any beekeeper's satisfaction.
Grade: B
