The Beekeeper (2024)

	Directed by: David Ayer	COUNTRY USA GENRE Action NORWEGIAN TITLE The Beekeeper RUNNING TIME 105 minutes
	Produced by: Bill Block Jason Statham David Ayer Chris Long Kurt Wimmer
	Written by: Kurt Wimmer

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Adam Clay	Jason Statham	½
Verona Parker	Emmy Raver-Lampman	½
Derek Danforth	Josh Hutcherson	½
Matt Wiley	Bobby Naderi	-
Janet Harward, Director of CIA	Minnie Driver	-
Mickey Garnett	David Witts	-
Pettis	Michael Epp	-
Lazarus	Taylor James
Jessica Danforth	Jemma Redgrave
Rico Anzalone	Enzo Cilenti	½
Eloise Parker	Phylicia Rashad	½
Wallace Westwyld	Jeremy Irons
Anisette Landress	Megan Le

Review

There's a sadly topical premise setting off Jason Statham's latest action hoopla, namely the online scamming of a naïve elderly woman (Phylicia Rashad). Granted, her closest friend's and relative's reactions to her ensuing suicide completely lack subtlety, but Statham and his director here, David Ayer (Training Day, Street Kings), have never been about subtlety. They're about non-stop, adrenaline-filled, all-out, oversized action. And The Beekeeper delivers just that with steadfast zealousness and, at times, an enjoyable inventiveness. There's a semi-intricate narrative about said scammers and their multi-million back operators, who of course are power-greedy pricks, but chances are you'll be more pulled in by Statham's creative combat antics than by the film's overall story. Which is sort of the point, anyway. Among Statham's adversaries, there are numerous ridiculous characters, plus an ever-enjoyable cameo from Jeremy Irons.