In the armed forces as part of the Royal Marines, Levon Cade (Jason Stratham) was a model soldier. Heading first into action, leaving no man behind, and when in doubt, violence was usually the answer. But that was a long time ago. Levon is retired. Now, he’s just a simple working man.
Residing in America, Levon is a widower living out of his truck. As foreman for a family-owned company ‘Garcia Construction’, he is respected and kept fed by his co-workers and employers. However, Levon is spending every cent he makes on fighting a losing custody battle against his father in law’s high-priced lawyers. While quick to anger and ready to defend his friends if needed, Levon is trying to keep his head down, lest his prior life of violence compromises his hopes at further relationship with his young daughter, Merry (Isla Gie).
But this is all about to change when the unthinkable happens to Joe and Carla Garcia (Michael Peña and Noemi Gonzalez). While partying and drinking with her friends, their daughter Jenny (Arianna Rivas) is kidnapped. Pulled into the clutches of a despicable human trafficking ring, which operates above the law. With nowhere else to turn, the Gomez‘s ask Levon to do what he does best. Having a daughter himself, he can’t say no. As he delves into the criminal underworld, Levon discovers a vast web of drugs, corruption, Russians and biker gangs, none of which stand a chance against Levon Cade!
From writer-director David Ayer, comes an adaptation of comic book writer Chuck Dixon‘s successful Levon Cade novel series. A callback to shameless actioners of the past, the pulpy novels have found an audience. Well, who else is better suited to bring this character to the big screen than the film’s producer and co-writer, Sylvester Stallone?
Outside of the aging Tom Cruise, I can’t think of many movie stars other than Jason Stratham whose name is enough to sell an action movie. While ‘Hobbs’ was starring in big budget disappointments, ‘Shaw’ was giving his fans what they wanted, head-butting sharks underwater! Not all his action films may live up to some of the cheesy greats of the 80s, but as someone who appreciates the brand, I take what I can get!
This is exactly what A Working Man sets out to be and succeeds. It’s a shameless, fun, balls to the wall signature Jason Statham action flick where a good guy goes up against evildoers and makes them pay. Like Stratham and Ayer‘s previous collaboration ‘The Beekeeper’ (2024), the action is hard, heavy, with plenty of blood, heaps of F-bombs and lots to enjoy.
Again, Statham is allowed to show off his skills as a martial artist and kickboxer, taking out enemies left and right. David Ayer‘s decision to film many of the scenes in close ups with harsher lighting can be a little detrimental, although doesn’t completely ruin things. Gunplay is rampant and brutal as targets get blown across the room in a spray of red mist. It’s just a good thing that Levon‘s enemies all (without fail) have the horrendous aim of Star Wars Stormtroopers!
David Ayer is a director who has worked with both extremely realistic action films and the fantastical. This is firmly in the latter category, bringing to the table a level of grit mixed with incredible finesse. The world of A Working Man is dirty, dark and ugly, but in contrast, its characters are vibrant and eccentric. Russian mobsters are dolled up looking like early 2000s British chav rappers, while biker gang leaders wear helmets with horns and sit on a throne of pipes and engine parts. Also, almost everyone seems to use gold plated firearms, the ultimate form of bling!
Oddly enough, the kidnapping of a young woman storyline is very reminiscent of that from another Stallone film. While in Rambo: Last Blood (2019) the effects of human trafficking were shown in such a brutal, violent and cruel way which made that film hard to enjoy, A Working Man if anything is the other extreme. As dark and oppressive as Jenny‘s situation is, she never seems unable to take care of herself. Either from coincidence, contrivance or Jenny‘s own abilities and quips, it’s hard to find her in much peril. I understand they wanted to stray away from a damsel in distress trope, but it is kind of the point of the film. As a result, we forget about Jenny amongst the film’s more interesting villains and action sequences.
Despite that little Hollywoodism or maybe even because of it, A Working Man is a carefree action poporn film that’s great for a boys’ night out at the cinema. Yeah, it can be dumb at times, you may find yourself rolling your eyes more than once, and even laughing inappropriately at some of the hammier moments, but it’s a ‘dad movie’. The kind of flick that we enjoy seeing, regardless its faults.
A Working Man is in cinemas now.