Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis:
I’ve really come to enjoy Jason Statham action movies! How does “A Working Man” compare to the rest? Here he plays Levon Cade, a retired Royal Marine who has assumed a normal civilian life. He runs a construction crew for a family who gave him his chance at a regular life. But once the family’s daughter is kidnapped, he is forced to venture into his old ways. He must bring the girl home and punish those responsible.
Positives:
It seems as though director David Ayer has formed a nice working relationship with Jason Statham. I enjoyed their previous effort together in “The Beekeeper”. This story follows a similar premise, where a highly skilled fighter has abandoned his dangerous life for something quieter. His efforts are short lived, only to be thrown back into the ring and fend off a group of bad guys. I love a good revenge movie filled with high octane action sequences so this was right up my alley. I’d say “A Working Man” tries to add more layers than “The Beekeeper”…for better and worse. I enjoyed a fair amount of the action sequences, embracing the visceral nature of the character Statham portrays. Seeing him come face to face with grade-A dirtbags and put them in their place never gets old. The film is a good example of a “dude” movie. Those who are fans of Statham’s previous work will likely have enough to enjoy here, even if it doesn’t match his best efforts.
Negatives:
It pains me to say it…but “A Working Man” is a disappointing effort on most fronts. Comparing it to “The Beekeeper” it lacks the fun, coherency, and emotional investment that film had. The story follows a similar template of a grisled, retired special forces character who is unwillfully brought out of retirement to exact justice. The film’s premise is good but the story is far too convoluted for its own good. There are a handful of stories going on at once and none of them get enough development. Whether it be the storyline of being a better dad, rescuing a friend’s daughter, or exploring the underworld of these mercenaries, all angles are undercooked. By the time the film is in its groove, the story’s flow is uneven and choppy. It’s surprisingly slow too, where the action takes a backseat for the convoluted plot. This is a bummer since we come to Statham’s movies for a better balance of action and espionage.
Where “The Beekeeper” easily establishes the villains and their motive, “A Working Man” fails to do so. I couldn’t keep track of all the villains introduced throughout the film, resulting in an overstuffed and confusing angle of who is working for who. None of the underground mafia characters made much sense in the grand scheme of things. Since none of the villains are developed enough, we don’t really care what happens to them as they are either too stupid to be a real threat or too inconsequential to matter. I love seeing Jason Statham mow down the bad guys as much as anyone but we have to feel the stakes to care. I was underwhelmed with the way the action was edited too. It’s very choppy with lots of cutting, making the visual experience less appealing than letting the hand to hand combat carry the scene.
Conclusion:
For every element “A Working Man” gets right, it fumbles on another two. I enjoyed the general premise of the movie but it gets far too convoluted than it needed to. Whether it be introducing too many villains or producing choppy action scenes, this one comes under expectations. Some Statham die-hards might find some enjoyment here, but I’d steer them towards “The Beekeeper” before I’d recommend this film. Hopefully Ayer and Statham bounce back with their next effort.
