A Working Man movie review: Jason Statham switches jobs, not genre, in another grit-and-growl thriller

This setup–a reformed man drawn back into violence when someone he cares about is in danger–is as old as cinema itself. Indian audiences might recognise the echoes of Fateh in spirit, if not tone. What differentiates this film, at least superficially, is its attempt at grounding the story in a blue-collar milieu, perhaps a nod to Stallone’s working-class roots. But the narrative, for all its grime and grit, never quite lets go of its glossy action-hero sheen.

Jason Statham, Michael Peña and Arianna Rivas in a shot from ‘A Working Man’

The core plot kicks off when Jenny, the daughter of Levon’s boss (played by a surprisingly subdued Michael Peña), goes missing. Levon, reluctant but duty-bound, dives headfirst into the criminal underworld, unleashing a series of brutal takedowns that would make John Wick blink. The violence is visceral, the choreography functional but unremarkable. While there’s a certain satisfaction in watching Statham bulldoze his way through goons, there’s little inventiveness in the way it’s all stitched together.

Ayer, who previously gave us the bruising End of Watch and the scattershot Suicide Squad, brings a workmanlike quality to the direction here. The film never quite crackles, but it doesn’t fumble either. The pacing is taut, but emotionally, A Working Man feels like a flatline punctuated by action beats. There’s little room for levity, even less for introspection. This is a film that wants to be a character study but settles for a demolition derby.

At the emotional core is Levon’s relationship with his daughter, but it never evolves beyond the usual set of tropes. He’s trying earnestly, if a bit mechanically, to build a life with her. He lives out of his car, brushing his teeth in a parking lot and curling up in the backseat at night. She, meanwhile, stays with her maternal grandfather, away from the chaos he’s trying to escape. He sees her occasionally, makes sad eyes when he misses her, and carries the weight of guilt like a permanent shadow. You’ve seen it all before. These emotional beats are lifted from a playbook so dog-eared it might as well be laminated.

The Statham Paradox

It’s time we acknowledged the Statham paradox. Here is a man whose physicality, screen presence, and fight IQ are nearly unmatched. He is, in many ways, Britain’s answer to Tom Cruise. He commits, he trains, and he carries an entire film on sheer charisma. But unlike Cruise, who surrounds himself with filmmakers who constantly reinvent the action template, Statham seems to inhabit a creative cul-de-sac. His films rarely surprise. They function more as showcases for his durability than explorations of character or theme.

Jason Statham as Levon Cade in a still from ‘A Working Man’

There is no denying his appeal. He has a kind of anti-glamour charisma, an everyman edge that makes him a believable action hero. But watching A Working Man, one can’t help but wish he were handed a script with more substance, or perhaps even allowed to stretch into roles that challenge his established persona. Until then, we get versions of the same film: different day, same fury.

Michael Peña brings some pathos to a character that could easily have been a plot device. David Harbour shows up briefly, chews a bit of scenery, and disappears. The villains are cardboard cutouts, menacing only because the script tells us they are. There’s a subplot involving human trafficking that feels clumsily handled; it is not offensive, but certainly lacking nuance. One moment you’re watching a girl being held captive, and the next you’re in a barroom brawl scored like it’s the third act of a superhero movie. Tonal consistency is not the film’s strong suit.

And perhaps that’s the real frustration with A Working Man. It’s not that it’s bad. It’s that it never dares to be better. The ingredients are there: a leading man with gravitas, a director with a flair for grit, a story with emotional potential. But somewhere between concept and execution, ambition is traded for reliability.

A Working Man trailer:

A Working Man
A Working Man Cast – Jason Statham, Michael Peña, David Harbour, Jason Flemyng
A Working Man Director – David Ayer
A Working Man Rating – 2/5