Jason Statham trades in his usual high-tech spy gear for a hard hat and steel-toe boots in A Working Man, an action-packed thriller that blends blue-collar grit with bone-crunching vengeance. Directed by David Ayer, known for his tough-as-nails crime dramas, and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, the film is a brutal, relentless ride that plays to Statham’s strengths—mainly, taking down bad guys in the most efficient and violent ways possible.
A Reluctant Hero Pulled Back Into the Fight
When the film opens, Statham’s character, Levon Cade, is laying low as a construction worker in Chicago, ensuring that concrete is mixed correctly and rebar is in place. But we all know that Statham isn’t here to build skyscrapers—he’s here to break bones.
His past as a highly skilled anti-terrorist commando for the UK’s Royal Marines comes rushing back when his boss’s 19-year-old daughter is kidnapped during a night out. At first, Cade refuses to get involved. “I’m a different person now,” he insists. “It’s not who I am anymore.” Of course, this declaration comes right after he single-handedly takes down a gang harassing his coworker—using nothing but a bucket of nails, an axe, and a bag of gravel.
A visit from an old military buddy, played superbly by David Harbour, changes everything. “God help them,” Harbour’s character mutters when Cade finally agrees to go after the kidnappers, fully aware of the chaos that will follow.
A Brutal Hunt Through the Criminal Underworld
Cade’s pursuit takes him deep into the seedy underworld of human traffickers, Russian mobsters, corrupt cops, and a biker gang led by a sadistic kingpin who literally sits on a throne made of motorcycle parts. The film is packed with brutal, creative fight sequences—waterboarding, stabbings, skull-smashing, and even a torture scene where Statham casually munches on toast while interrogating a mob boss who is hogtied over his own swimming pool.
“All of this is for a girl?” one incredulous villain sneers, unable to comprehend Cade’s relentless pursuit. Yes, it is—for her and the principle of the thing.
The Working-Class Avenger vs. The Wealthy Villains
The film leans heavily into its blue-collar ethos. Cade, with his orange safety vest and no-nonsense attitude, is framed as the righteous underdog battling a world of elitist villains. The upper-echelon criminals are decked out in cravats, gold-tipped canes, and absurdly pretentious outfits straight out of an *’80s crime flick. One even sports a cape and a cigarette holder, exuding cartoonish levels of wealth and villainy.
The big finale unfolds in an extravagant, hidden casino packed with the city’s most corrupt power players. Cade storms in, dispensing justice the only way he knows how—with bullets, fists, and sheer unstoppable willpower.
Action, Carnage, and Just Enough Heart
While A Working Man delivers on the action front, its attempt at emotional depth is hit-or-miss. Cade, a widower and single father, is desperately trying to regain more custody of his daughter, who is being kept away by in-laws who claim he suffers from PTSD. “I hurt, too,” he tells his daughter in one of the film’s rare tender moments.
The film’s pacing stretches thin at times, especially during a ludicrously excessive motorcycle chase where Cade is shot at more times than soldiers during the Battle of Fallujah. However, a bright spot comes in the form of the kidnapped teen, played by Arianna Rivas, who isn’t just a helpless damsel—she fights back in a way that suggests she’s someone to watch out for in future roles.
Final Verdict: Let Statham Work, Man
At its core, A Working Man is exactly what audiences expect from a Jason Statham action movie—pure, unfiltered carnage wrapped in a story of righteous vengeance. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it knows its audience well. “You killed your way into this,” Cade’s buddy warns him. “You’re gonna have to kill your way out of it.”
And that’s exactly what he does.
“A Working Man”, an Amazon MGM Studios release, hits theaters this Friday. It is rated R for strong violence, language throughout, and drug content. Running time: 116 minutes. Rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
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- Paraluman P. Funtanilla#molongui-disabled-link
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla#molongui-disabled-link
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