My brothers have been so obsessed with Jason Statham films lately that our living room has basically turned into a shrine of punches and kicks. Statham is basically all they’ve wanted to watch. And since I needed to bribe my younger brother to get something done for me, my mind went straight to this movie. I remembered coming across a review of it on here, can’t remember who posted it or when but I added it to my favorites. And today, I finally or should I say we finally checked that ‘watched’ box.
I think I’ve seen a few of Statham films, a few is quite a poor number considering my obsession with movies and great actors, but I can say he’s a very talented actor and in all honesty, this particular movie is the definition of Jason Statham just being Jason Statham. Basically him serving violence like breakfast and explosions tossed in like seasoning. It’s also got a plot that’s simple enough to follow even if you’re eating, scrolling, and arguing with your siblings at the same time.
Synopsis
Statham plays Adam Clay, a retired Beekeeper, which sounds soft and cute until you realize it’s basically a super-classified, ex-government, off-the-books assassin squad masquerading under a peaceful name. He’s all zen and quiet until someone hurts a woman, the only person who showed him kindness, and then? Oh, he becomes the angel of vengeance. With a sprinkle of honey of course. Lol.
The story kicks off with a phishing scam that goes way too far, and from there Clay pretty much bulldozes through a whole chain of corrupt people like he’s pruning weeds. And I won’t lie, it's satisfying.
The fight scenes are so Statham-coded. Fans of this guy should know his fight scenes are usually clean, brutal, and efficient. No unnecessary flips. The tension also builds fast but never drags, perfect for people like me with siblings who pause movies every 10 minutes to argue.
What I found slightly amusing was how everyone underestimated him because obviously beekeeper sounds harmless.
Well, a few things made me roll my eyes a little. One is that the plot is predictable. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, just a textbook. You can literally see the twist coming like it sent you a Google Calendar invite. But again, it’s a Statham movie. I wasn’t expecting Shakespeare.
As for the villain, Derek, I found annoying to the point of comedy. He gives the tech-bro energy, entitlement, and the I’m untouchable vibe, well only for Clay to show him that touchability is absolutely possible. The movie may be coated in action, but it has this weird little emotional core, the idea of justice for people who fall victim to scams, especially the vulnerable.
Did I enjoy it?
Absolutely. Plus, any film that can keep my brothers quiet for almost two hours deserves a standing ovation. So, to whoever made that recommendation, I say thank you.
Rating: 8/10