Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsA focused Story about Gratuitous Violence - Here's Everything You Need to Know
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
I was really excited when The Beekeeper became available on Amazon Prime. But the excitement quickly waned. Fortunately I accomplished various administrative tasks on my while watching it on my computer, or otherwise it would rate even lower than the 3 stars I have awarded it. 2.5 is probably more appropriate.
Though I'm trying to avoid too many spoilers, there might be a few.
The story seems intruguiging for the first 5 minutes, with beautiful autumn-colored visuals. Jason Stratham's character is shown to have built a warming bond with Philicia Rashad's (I love her as Gus' mom in Pshych!). And I like Jason Statham also.
Very quickly she goes from having a powerful life force to someone who instantly and hopelessly gives up when some bad guy scammers scam on her. Instead of going to her beekeeper friend, she takes the exit ramp off the bridge, so to speak, before he can return a few hours later for her dinner invitation.
Her daughter who at-first is distraught about her mom's downfall and bent on revenge, takes the other side to hunt the justice-giver instead of the bad guys.
I won't go into much more detail. But suffice it to say that this movie lacks several key components to that of a successful one - primarily characther growth. With as many different roles, you would think that at least one character would change for the better... but, NOPE!
The mom: Nope
The daughter: Nope
Other FBI agent: Maybe, almost when he suggests letting the beekeeper do his thing.
First scammer lead: Nope. After getting butt-kicked and several opportunities to escape, still a jerk.
Second scammer lead: Nope. Pretty much same as first scammer lead.
CIA Retired Director: Nope. At first seems like he might do the right thing.
Mercenaries: Nope, not a one of them.
Secret Service guys: Nope, no character growth identified.
Military guys: Same as Secret Service.
Private security: Same as Military guys.
Hit Girl at the gas station: Nope.
The President: Nope. But she shows some remorse or regret, but no repentence.
The Beekeeper: See the results stated above.
In summary, none of the characters seem to have any redeeming value or improvement.
About the violence... There is a lot. Basically that's the entire move. There are some cool fight sequences.
Funny Reference: At the end, the CIA guy comes out to dissuade the beekeeper from continuing his damage. His voice sounds incredibly like the program director dude from Bourne Identity (or whichever version) who gives Jason Bourne a talk about what he signed up for. (maybe it is the director's little joke to the Jasons - one being an actor and the other a character.
I'm trying to be positive here, really. Oh yeah, one more thing I liked was that old Ford pickup truck.