David Ayer directs Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman and Jeremy Irons in this action flick where a retired secret special ops “righter of wrongs” has his time keeping bees interrupted by institutional corruption that goes to the highest level.

Obviously has London filling in for America. Oscillates between cartoonish and maudlin. Statham really just plays an unstoppable, near silent cypher here… which is hardly the best use of his strengths. The action is violent but repetitive. It feels like the same call centre set piece gets stuck on a loop but at least the last iteration ends with a gory elevator switcheroo that made me sit bolt upright. The investigating FBI partners have a nice energy together. Popcorn-wise The Beekeeper scratches a multiplex itch I enjoy being scratched by any old tosh but I’d prefer it if any other potential The Stath franchise got another entry over this.

6

Perfect Double Bill: Safe (2012)

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