"Why Jason Statham is still the king of no-nonsense action films"

I never watched the trailer, read the synopsis or even glanced at the logline. All it took was the poster – Jason Statham gripping a sledgehammer – and I instantly knew what to expect: a former military or law enforcement man ready to lay the smack down on anyone foolish enough to cross him. And let’s just say, I was not disappointed.

Statham keeps it real. He’s a British action star who knows exactly what his audience wants and he delivers every time. He doesn’t pretend to be a method actor, working hard in crafting characters with deep psychological nuances. No, Statham sticks to his known formula: kicking butt and taking names. Sure, he gave a Texas accent a shot in Parker, but he quickly realised that wasn’t in his lane. Since then, he’s embraced the formula that made him a fan favourite and we love him all the more for it.

By looking at the crew behind A Working Man, Sylvester Stallone as the co-writer, Jason Statham as the producer and David Ayer (best known for Suicide Squad and Harsh Times) as the director, you already have an idea of what you’re in for: a film mixed with hard-hitting action and gritty storytelling.

In the film, Statham plays Levon Cade, a former military operative turned construction foreman for the Garcia family: father Joe (Michael Peña), mother Carla (Noemí González) and their 19-year-old daughter, Jenny (Arianna Rivas).

When Jenny is kidnapped by a ruthless gang involved in human trafficking, her parents beg Levon to bring her home. At first, he refuses as he wants to leave his violent past behind him. But when Levon sees the parallel between their pain and his own duty as a father, he relents.

And that’s when the real fun begins.

Levon uncovers it is the Russian mafia who has caused this mess and aims to break up their operation. THEIR. ENTIRE. OPERATION. We’re talking all the way up from the street thugs to the godfather. Who could better pull this off other than Mr. Statham, himself?

The plot isn’t just your typical “hunt-down-the-bad-guys” revenge story; it has more depth, especially in how Levon tracks his primary target. Fans of cat-and-mouse thrillers will appreciate the added layers. Some moments are a bit hard to follow, but all is forgiven once Levon starts breaking bones, slitting throats and putting bullets in bad guys’ heads. Yes, it’s graphic, but that’s exactly what happens and we expect nothing less!

Jenny is not just a damsel in distress. She is able to hold her own fighting back (and winning!) at times. You appreciate her resilience and want her to get revenge on those who have kidnapped her, especially because they are so bad!

As expected, the action is top-tier Statham: brutal hand-to-hand combat, intense shootouts and raw, unfiltered brutality. Like many of Statham’s former characters, Levon doesn’t say much. However, when he does talk, every word matters. Clocking in at just under two hours, there’s never a dull moment. You’re fully invested in Levon’s mission to set things right.

A Working Man delivers exactly what it promises: a relentless, action-packed thriller with Statham doing what he does best. The film doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t have to. Instead, A Working Man leans into its strengths: brutal combat, a no-nonsense hero and a straightforward story of vengeance. If you love the typecast of Jason Statham, then you’ll walk away more than satisfied, knowing you got exactly what you came for – pure, unfiltered mayhem.