The Beekeeper

So I rated this higher than it has a right to be rated but I don't want to take away from what could've been and what could be if there is a sequel.

This clandestine organization known as the Beekeepers is really compelling. I love the idea of this movie. However, the only good thing about this was Jason Statham and Jeremy Irons. The supporting actors were horrible and cartoonish. It went from being prospectively a terrific movie in the beginning, to just comical and not in a good B-movie (no pun intended) type of way.

The thing that destroyed this movie was the character writing. Statham's character didn't have much background and was an easy write as a typical elite action hero. Even so, they gave him some cheesy dialogue at times. Jeremy Irons was the only realistic character. Everyone else, especially the money folks, were like goofy caricatures of cartoon villains. His FBI tail, being his neighbor's (that he is avenging) daughter, had the most unrealistic plot line and character development you can imagine. She had zero grief nor internal conflict displayed. If they had gone a more serious direction, this movie would've been knockout. They should make a sequel with better writing.

Verona Parker is easily one of the worst characters ever written for the screen, takes away everything this movie aspires to be. The actress also did a piss poor job and always had me cringing at the unrealistic and unreasonable choices she makes. If you'd delete that character entirely, this movie would've been a whole lot better in the long run.

Subject wise it's a very nice concept of a revenge thriller against scam call centers- but again, the whole govt mumbo jumbo makes it feel a whole run of the mill action BS from Hollywood mid tier movies. If the story had been awhole lot grounded, it would've done a whole lot better imo.

Statham knows how to fight. The action is great.

The dialogs and the plot... oh my God. This was all written by a 15 year old as a weekend project.

It's all beyond ridiculous.

Even Statham's usual delivery can't salvage the "zinger" phrases in this movie. Not even that.

Still, the action is good.

Watch it for the action. With beer. With friends around, making fun of all the silly and teenage-amateurish dialogs.

You'll walk out thinking that you should not have enjoyed this horrible movie, and that you can also be a Hollywood screenwriter. Easily.

By the way, they spent 40 million to do this... I can only imagine Statham walked out of the movie loaded.

A solid popcorn action flick. Jason is his standard typecast role, which you can't blame him for, he's a one trick pony but that one trick is entertaining.

The whole movie is a budget-bin version of John Wick, which again is ok if you accept it for what it is.

The main down fall is the casting of Emmy Raver-Lampan, who is just a stunningly bad actress. It's impossible to believe her on onscreen, even in a popcorn flick.

Jeremy Irons is a welcome sight and lends credibility to the film, even though he doesn't get much screen time.

Despite this I actually hope there's a sequel, fun action flicks are perfect beer and pizza viewing.

The Beekeeper is a decently violent , sort of moronic Jason Bourne want-to-be. In it we get a Jason Statham who's more entertaining than the turgid "Wrath of Man", but falls short of his' action comedies , like "Snatch", "Expendables", and "Spy".

The action and violence are several notches above many other similar movies (though several floors below the likes of "John Wick" or "The Raid").

The movie tries to pretend it's a cerebral thriller , with commentary on avarice and political dirty dealings, but for the most part is a pretty plain revenge film.

The bad guys are annoying enough you look forward to their painful demises.

If you're looking to watch Jason Statham wander around and kill people , you could do worse.