What’s It About
Mr. Clay is a former operative of a clandestine organization called “Beekeepers”. After his friend and neighbor dies by suicide after falling for a phishing scam, Mr. Clay sets out to exact revenge against the company responsible
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
In The Beekeeper, Jason Statham plays Adam Clay, a retired member of a super-secret government group. At first, all we know about Adam is that he lives in the countryside, raises bees, and sells honey. His best friend, Eloise Parker, falls victim to a phishing scam, leading to tragedy. When Adam finds Ms. Parker in her home unresponsive, her FBI agent daughter, Verona, arrives almost simultaneously and arrests and questions Clay. Verona ultimately had to let Mr. Clay go once his story checked out, but Adam overheard Verona discussing her mother’s cause of death with her partner. This prompts Adam to trade his beekeeper life for commando gear and take on high-tech scammers. The film skillfully avoids unnecessary details about Adam’s past, maintaining a sense of mystery. Statham’s performance is noteworthy, building on his previous work in films like Furious 7, Spy, and Wrath of Man. The character of Adam, a self-regulating force for society, becomes more moving when he reflects on Eloise’s significance and discusses the organization of beehives. The villains are well-cast, with standout performances from David Witts, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, and Taylor James. They embody morally and physically revolting characters. So when Adam walks into the scammers’ office and says, “Everyone, I need your attention please. I am going to burn this place to the ground.” Lines like that are incredibly satisfying for anyone who has ever been scammed, especially when Clay delivers on his promise. The secondary plot involving Eloise’s FBI agent daughter, Verona Parker, and her partner, Matt Wiley, adds depth, but the movie somewhat wimps out politically and philosophically. It suggests that the issue is a few bad apples rather than systemic corruption. The film raises questions about systemic corruption but falls short of fully exploring them. Despite the missed opportunity for a bolder statement, Statham’s portrayal of a vigilante taking on white-collar crooks remains a fantasy that could speak to most of the audience.
OUR RATING – A WORKER BEE 9