A Working Man (dir. David Ayer) 

By: Adam Freed

Maybe it's time that Jason Statham starts getting a little more credit. The British action star has maximized his potential earnings well into the autumn years of his nearly 3 decade career on the back of a series of films that have essentially been variations of the same story. Just last year, the British shoot ‘em up star headlined the action cult classic The Beekeeper (2024) to an impressive worldwide box office haul. He returns a year later playing another iteration of the same role in director David Ayer’s rinse and repeat action drama A Working Man.  Statham embodies Levon Cade, a former British special operative who predictably wants nothing more than to leave his past military life behind in favor of a peaceful existence running a Chicago construction crew. Things are going all too swimmingly for Cade until the daughter of his best friend and boss, Joe Garcia, is abducted by human traffickers working for the Russian Mob. If the plotline feels familiar, it's because it is essentially the central story of all of Statham’s one man wrecking crew films, a formula that lacks originality, but continues to produce the intended result. 

Cynicism aside, there will eventually come a time that even the most devout of Jason Statham (Snatch, Spy) supporters will call it quits when it comes to following the 58-year old Derbyshire native down the contrived paths he continually asks his fans to walk.  A Working Man however, isn't likely the film that breaks the camel’s back.  David Ayer’s campy action film offers just enough of the expected revenge-based blood and guts to keep expectant audiences entertained. A Working Man isn’t among the most compelling of films in Statham’s filmography; its story, written by action icon Sylvester Stallone, leaves an awful lot to be desired in terms of common sense and practicality. Yet, for those wishing to spend an overcast Saturday afternoon bathing in the blood of deserving human traffickers, there is a perverse satisfaction offered as a return on investment.

Enjoying A Working Man quite literally, comes with a certain amount of work.  There are some massive gaps in logic within the story, not to mention some geographic impossibilities that are likely to only set off alarm bells for people who live in the Windy City. One of the most glaring disappointments in Statham‘s latest conspiracy thriller is that his two top billed co-stars Michael Peña (Landman, The Martian) and David Harbour (Thunderbolts*, Stranger Things), two outstanding actors in their own right, are only given the window dressing treatment within a script that gives minimal opportunity to two performers of maximum ability.  Ultimately director David Ayer (The Beekeeper, Fury) has created a film in A Working Man that is exactly what audiences think it’s going to be.  For audiences entering the theater with a bloodlust for throat slashing, bare knuckle conspiracy busting action, the film delivers without question. Anyone in the mood for a plot that is at least remotely logical, are likely to feel they are going home empty handed.  

Target Score 4.5/10 - While Jason Statham fans are likely to be delighted with his latest reign of terror, this time punching and shooting his way through a Chicagoland human trafficking ring, A Working Man is very unlikely to please anyone with even the mildest set of logical expectations.