The Beekeeper Review: Too Stupid To Be Great, Too Grim To Be Properly Entertaining

Jason Statham in The Beekeeper.

There is room in the cinematic landscape for movies that are stupid-but-fun. So long as there are good intentions and serious efforts behind the scenes, there is nothing necessarily wrong with ridiculous premises, preposterous plotting and silly dialogue (particularly if there is a notable level of self-awareness involved). These kinds of big screen adventures are part of every genre, and while they often get slapped with the derogatory label of being “guilty pleasures,” there shouldn’t be any guilt in appreciating the number one goal of any film: it’s entertainment.

The Beekeeper

(Image credit: MGM)

Release Date: January 12, 2023
Directed By: David Ayer
Written By: Kurt Wimmer
Starring: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, Phylicia Rashad, Jemma Redgrave, and Minnie Driver
Rating: R for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use
Runtime: 105 minutes