I finally got around to watching a movie I've been waiting a while to see, everyone's favorite fantasy about a man who will appear from nowhere to exact violent revenge on the ultra-rich on their behalf. The 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of posting reflects not much about the movie, but a lot about the audience: it would be really nice if Jason Statham effortlessly beat the shit out of every Crypto Bro, NFT Guy, and AI Snake Oil Salesman who inherited wealth and took the credit for their own "success."

Trust me, I'm not saying they're wrong to want this. God knows the world would be a better place if the untouchable were touchable. And I do think the movie is alright. It makes the bad guys detestable and evil, worthy of punishment, and unlike standard TV wishcasting it recognizes that the law has failed and is only as good as its enforcement. Noble truths! But it doesn't always have the sense of style I'd like it to have, and its non-bee-pun dialogue is mostly really bad (they should have doubled-down on even more bee references, started getting really obscure with them by the end). Some of the characters and plot elements feel pretty vestigial even for a movie this direct and obvious. Unique ways to inflict violent retribution aside, it just leaves a lot of opportunity behind with the things it does poorly. And thus, even as a certified Eat The Rich Enjoyer, it is only about average for me.

All in all, I think the movie mostly succeeds at what it wants to do - it doesn't want you to think very hard at all, it wants you to sit down, have a snack, and harken back to a time when action movies meant watching a muscle dude punch people until the good guys win. If that's what you want, you will find you aren't alone, there's a whole hive on BlueSky you can join. But as far as 2024 wish fulfillment violent revenge sagas built around an animal themes go, it is certainly no Monkey Man.

Score: 6/10

IMDb: The Beekeeper

PS: What is my favorite J-Staths movie? Lots of choices. Definitely Ghosts of Mars (ok, just kidding, but I do like it more than the Haters). Of course, it's the early Guy Ritchie stuff, like everyone else. Sorry, no exciting surprises here. Don't pretend to tell me there is any distinction between The Mechanic and The Transporter and Parker and ... etc

PS: It didn't dissuade me in any way, because I have crippling brainworms when it comes to bad movies anyway, but advertising your film as being by the director of Suicide Squad is a wild decision. Why?? The next identical Statham movie is doing the same thing!