Can 'The Beekeeper' Become Another 'John Wick'?

In 2024, we witnessed the global release of the relatively high-profile film The Beekeeper, starring Jason Statham and directed by David Ayer, who previously helmed Fury starring Brad Pitt.

The storyline of The Beekeeper is deceptively simple: Jason Statham plays Adam Clay, a retired secret agent of a clandestine organization who takes up beekeeping after retirement. A kind-hearted landlord rents him a warehouse to keep bees, showing Adam Clay, genuine care akin to family.

One day, the landlord, known for his trust and kindness, falls victim to a scam, losing everything and contemplating suicide. This tragic event ignites a fury in Adam Clay, who had just begun to find peace in retirement and human kindness. Determined to seek justice, he emerges from retirement to dismantle the scam syndicate responsible. However, his mission takes a dangerous turn as he discovers a complex network of vested interests behind the syndicate. Adam faces relentless attacks from fellow agents, powerful conglomerates, and even the FBI. Can he confront them all alone? A series of intense showdowns ensue as Adam Clay fights to expose the truth and seek justice.

Indeed, if you've seen The Beekeeper and are familiar with the John Wick series, it's hard not to compare the two.

In John Wick, Keanu Reeves portrays the retired hitman John Wick, who returns to the underworld to avenge his wife's death and his dog's murder, setting off a series of events spanning four films. Similarly, The Beekeeper is not about a bee but about Adam Clay seeking justice for his landlord, who fell victim to a scam, to eliminate the fraudsters.

Both films share the common characteristic of notable organizations backing their protagonists. In John Wick, John is associated with "The Continental," a network of safe havens for assassins overseen by an ancient council of twelve families known as the High Table. The Beekeeper, in comparison, depicts a slightly more grounded scenario, likening human society to a beehive, with each individual's profession mirroring the roles of bees.

The "Beekeeper" organization Adam Clay belongs to operates outside the societal beehive structure of the United States, possessing all the resources within the hive, wielding authority over internal power structures while preserving the hive's system and structure. However, he is a special agent of the Beekeeper and has a sense of justice and a solid commitment to maintaining the hive's societal structure. Thus, when Adam Clay's landlord is driven to despair and suicide by fraudsters, he feels obligated to eliminate the parasites within the societal beehive. The care and support shown by the landlord to Adam Clay also serve as one of the driving forces behind his vengeance against the scam syndicate.

Apart from sharing similar settings and themes with John Wick, The Beekeeper employs a similar technique to indirectly highlight its protagonist's prowess and professionalism. While John Wick emphasizes John's lethal skills through stories of his feats narrated by underworld figures with dilated pupils, The Beekeeper uses the reaction of a former CIA director upon hearing the term "Beekeeper." He almost breaks down in tears, visibly shaken, and swiftly orders the death penalty for the small boss of the scam syndicate, stating that when the Beekeeper targets you, your days are numbered. You can mock all you want, but he'll be the last to laugh at you.

Adam Clay launches a daring solo attack on the scam syndicate's data call center, catching them off guard. In retaliation, the center sends hired thugs to Adam Clay's residence, but he swiftly deals with them. As the story unfolds, the powerful forces behind the syndicate emerge. Among them is the former CIA director, who reveals the feared professional killing abilities of the "Beekeeper" organization, of which Adam Clay is a part. The FBI's special forces and a task force of Navy SEALs prove ineffective against Adam Clay's skills.

The stakes escalate when it is revealed that the head of the scam syndicate is the son of the current President of the United States. Adam Clay is tasked with assassinating the President's son at a private party hosted by the President, amidst the highest-level security and right under the President's nose. The mission becomes incredibly challenging, pushing Adam Clay to the limits of his abilities.

The film continuously contrasts the overwhelming strength of the antagonistic forces to highlight Adam Clay's greater power, symbolizing his resistance against authority and the inherent clash with the entrenched upper class. The stronger the antagonist, the more the protagonist's charisma shines through. This thematic resonance is executed quite effectively in the film. With a runtime of just over 100 minutes, the pacing between dialogue and action sequences is well-maintained, with each action sequence escalating in intensity and crisis.

Another aspect of the film's exhilaration lies in its exploration of the natural human instinct for revenge. A retired teacher who lives a peaceful life of charity takes in a top-secret agent, and the two spend their twilight years together in suburban tranquillity.

The narrative takes a poignant turn when the retired teacher's charity organization is defrauded and destroyed, leading to her tragic demise. Frustrated by the lack of legal recourse due to bureaucratic obstacles and top-level interference, Adam Clay takes matters into his own hands to avenge the old lady and her landlord. This storyline resonates deeply with viewers, eliciting empathy and sympathy for the underprivileged represented by the Beekeeper organization. As the narrative unfolds, viewers become invested in seeing the Beekeeper portrayed in a more heroic light.

As the action intensifies, Adam Clay navigates through gunfire unscathed, a feat that, while unrealistic, captivates audiences and allows them to suspend disbelief. Viewers are drawn into the thrilling and straightforward tale of justice prevailing, eagerly rooting for Adam Clay and the Beekeeper to triumph against all odds.

Having discussed the parallels between The Beekeeper and John Wick, the question arises: will The Beekeeper become another version of John Wick? The answer is negative. While settings may be similar, the devil is in the details, and in terms of character development and world-building within the Assassin universe, John Wick far surpasses.

The Beekeeper appears rougher compared to John Wick. Take the protagonist, for example. John Wick has a complete emotional arc. The Beekeeper also attempts a similar setup, with Adam Clay retiring and spending time harmoniously with his retired landlord. However, the problem lies in the scant screen time given to their relationship, making their bond extremely thin. Furthermore, Jason Statham's portrayal of emotional scenes, especially with the landlord, lacks chemistry, further weakening the foundation of their relationship.

The exploration of the organization behind the protagonist needs to be improved in The Beekeeper. It's evident that John Wick pays much more attention to detail, fleshing out the hierarchical structure of the assassin organization, the rules of "The Continental," the currency flow and usage within the assassin world, and the communication and exchange behind the scenes. The Beekeeper could have similarly constructed the world logic of the "Beekeeper" organization. Still, unfortunately, the film settles for a superficial outline.

For instance, the base of operations behind the Beekeeper is barely explored, with only a few shots and a few computers. Later, when Adam Clay goes to the organization's base alone to get equipment, guess what? It's empty; no one's there, no surveillance, no alarms, nothing. Is this the supposedly powerful organization, even more influential than top-tier national agencies like the FBI and CIA? It all seems too casual.

Additionally, when the former CIA director learns of Adam Clay's rebellion, he dispatches internal agents of the Beekeeper organization to eliminate him. Still, they send a lunatic, who Adam Clay quickly delivers. He remains unfazed and continues to defy them. Unlike John Wick, who needs allies, Adam Clay goes solo throughout, which is somewhat unbelievable.

Regarding the antagonists, namely the scam syndicate, the film fails to boldly explore or satirize real-world issues, settling for superficial references that only marginally expand the scope. Adam Clay's actions are also perplexing. He seems to trust that the scam syndicate has no connection to the President, so after killing the President's son, he simply jumps out the window. Is this because the Queen Bee doesn't kill her kind? Or is it to leave room for a sequel? Will the Queen Bee unleash furious retaliation against her renegade Beekeeper?

Furthermore, due to lacklustre performances by the actors and a rather dull storyline, the FBI investigation subplot dampens the viewing experience. Fortunately, Jason Statham's scenes with the former CIA director exude charm, maintaining the film's adrenaline-fueled state. Also, "to bee or not to bee" this line is ideally suited to the film, fitting seamlessly into its pun-laden narrative. If you enjoy starting the year with a no-brainer yet not overly childish plot with satisfying, thrilling action where the protagonist effortlessly dominates the scene, The Beekeeper might be worth a try.