“A Working Man” (2025) – Another Statham Action Flick That Doesn’t Try to Be Anything Else

Levon Cade left his profession behind to work construction and be a good dad to his daughter. But when a local girl vanishes, he's asked to return to the skills that made him a mythic figure in the shadowy world of counter-terrorism.

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You know, there’s something beautifully simple about Jason Statham. It’s like the cinematic equivalent of fast food – it’s never going to win any culinary awards, but it’ll fill you up with just enough of the good stuff to keep you coming back for more. “A Working Man” is exactly that, folks – a no-frills action flick that doesn’t pretend to be anything else. You’re here for the punches, the explosions, and the oh-so-quotable one-liners. And Statham, in his typical no-nonsense style, delivers.

The plot? It’s as straightforward as a left hook from a guy who looks like he bench presses cars for breakfast. Levon Cade, played by our man Statham, is a former counter-terrorism badass who’s traded in his guns and grenades for a hard hat and a hammer on a construction site. But when a local girl vanishes, well, it’s time for Levon to dust off those old skills and step back into the shadowy world of espionage. You know the drill: bad guys, kidnapping, high stakes, and plenty of gritty action. It’s like if “Taken” and “The Transporter” had a love child and decided to raise it on a steady diet of raw eggs and bad decisions.

First off, let’s talk about the heavy hitters: Jason Flemyng and Merab Ninidze. If you're not familiar with these guys, don’t worry, you're not alone. But hey, they fit the bill. Flemyng’s got that rough-around-the-edges charm that pairs well with Statham’s stone-faced tough guy routine. And then you’ve got Ninidze, who plays the villain in this film – and what a villain he is! We’re back to the classic “evil Russian” trope, which, given the state of global politics, feels a little too familiar but hey, it works. I mean, why break a winning formula, right? It’s not like we were expecting "The Godfather" out of this thing.

If you’re a fan of those simple, no-bull action films, then “A Working Man” is basically your dream come true. The plot is as thin as the paper it’s printed on, but that doesn’t matter when you’re watching Statham punch his way through a dozen bad guys without breaking a sweat. The fight scenes are gloriously violent, with Statham throwing haymakers that feel like they could knock a guy into next week. There’s something cathartic about watching a man who’s clearly capable of doing great things, but instead, he’s just building a house… or maybe burying a body, depending on which scene you’re looking at. It's all part of the charm.

And let’s not forget about the inevitable Sly Stallone connection here. You see, “A Working Man” is the second film written by Stallone in which Statham plays the lead. The first one was “Homefront” back in 2013, a movie that also fit snugly into the category of “films that have no intention of winning any Oscars but will still be a hell of a ride.” Stallone has a unique talent for crafting these kinds of films – ones where the plot is secondary to the explosions, and the only thing that really matters is how cool the hero looks while kicking ass.

But I’ll be honest with you – I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for a little more depth. This movie is a bit like a fast car – fun to ride in, but there’s no soul under the hood. The story, such as it is, doesn’t really dig into any complex themes. It’s just a man trying to live a quiet life but getting dragged back into the mess he left behind. Simple stuff. But here’s the thing: that’s okay. Sometimes you don’t need a deep, philosophical exploration of the human condition. Sometimes, you just need to see Jason Statham punch his way through a few bad guys. Is that really so wrong?

The real kicker here is the decision to make the Russians the bad guys again. I mean, come on, we’ve seen this play out more times than I can count. It’s like Hollywood is legally obligated to have an evil Russian villain in every action movie. I half expected Statham to yell, “This time, it’s personal!” while looking into the camera. Sure, it fits the current world political climate, but at this point, I’m just waiting for someone to switch things up and make the bad guys, I don’t know, Canadian? The film’s villains are as generic as they come, but in an action flick like this, you can get away with it. It’s not about complexity; it’s about action. And “A Working Man” delivers on that front.

The film also has some interesting behind-the-scenes trivia. Shooting for “A Working Man” began right after the crew wrapped up “The Beekeeper” (2024), so we’re basically getting two Statham films for the price of one. It’s like the movie gods were looking out for us action junkies. Plus, the film is based on the Levon Cade book series by Chuck Dixon, which, if you’re a fan of gritty thrillers, is probably worth checking out. There are 12 books in the series, so if you’re the type who likes to binge, this is a great start.

All in all, “A Working Man” isn’t winning any awards for storytelling or character development, but it doesn’t need to. It’s got Jason Statham throwing punches, some solid action sequences, and enough explosions to make Michael Bay jealous. If you’re in the mood for a mindless action flick with just enough depth to keep you from zoning out completely, then this one’s for you. And if not? Well, there’s always another Statham movie around the corner.

Ranking: 6.7/10