Directed by David Ayer, A Working Man is an action thriller based on the novel, Levon’s Trade: A Vigilante Justice Thriller: 1 by famed comic book writer, Chuck Dixon. Ayer also co-wrote and did the screenplay with Sylvester Stallone, meaning audiences will be in for an adrenaline-fuelled ride where rules and bones will be broken. A Working Man stars Jason Statham in the titular role as well as David Harbour, Michael Peña, and Arianna Rivas, to name a few and is now blasting its way into cinemas worldwide.

Former Royal Marine commando Levon Cade now lives a more quiet and peaceful life as a construction worker in Chicago and is a good father to his daughter, Merry, who lost her mother to suicide. After being informed that his boss’ daughter, Jenny, has been kidnapped, he reverts to his old ways to go on a one-man mission to find the human traffickers and will do whatever it takes and will not stop until the job is done.

The film primarily centres on Jason Statham as Levon Cade. This film allows him to showcase many sides of his character, from a loving single father and a hardworking construction worker who looks out for his colleagues to a no-nonsense former soldier with an ice-cold demeanour. His old military days aren’t shown in the movie other than some photos and medals, but it’s clear how it’s affected him, and even though he never wanted to hold a gun ever again, he doesn’t hesitate to pull the trigger when things get personal.

Statham excels at portraying a cold-hearted killing hero who also has a soft side. His ability to perform his own stunts on screen further adds to the exciting action scenes. Because Levon maintains a low profile, the villains know nothing about him and have no idea who they’re dealing with, proving that the quiet ones are usually the most dangerous.

There isn’t one big villain in the film since human traffickers work in big groups. Throughout the film, Levon encounters many memorable enemies who could be the main villain. They include Jason Flemyng as Wolo Kolisnyk, Maximilian Osinski as Dimi Kolisnyk, Emmett J. Scanlan as Viper, Eve Mauro as Artemis, Chidi Ajufo as Dutch, and various more who all serve as different villains with diverse personalities all linked to Jenny’s kidnapping. This forces Levon to investigate, interrogate, and fight through various enemies until he finds Jenny and brings her home.

The supporting cast all have their place in the film and help add to Jason Statham’s character. David Harbour stars as Gunny Lefferty, a close friend of Levon and fellow former soldier who lives a quieter life out in the woods and assists Levon with getting equipped for his one-man mission.

Michael Peña plays Joe Garcia, Levon’s boss and Jenny’s father. Peña is best known for his comedic roles, so seeing him as a more serious character is a nice change. He doesn’t get as much screen time but does more than enough to show he’s in distress and hoping his daughter is safe.

Arianna Rivas portrays Jenny Garcia, Joe’s daughter, who works for his construction company. Even while kidnapped, she is rebellious, making her resilient and not a typical damsel in distress. She even gets a few moments to outsmart the villains and almost escape, but at the same time, she always shows she’s in fear for her life and reminds audiences that her situation is no laughing matter. Isla Gie plays Merry Cade, Levon’s daughter, and even though she has a small role, it allows Statham to bring out his softer side and add a personal touch and extra motivation for him to bring his boss’ daughter home.

This movie starring Jason Statham has no shortage of action sequences, and the story and dialogue all help justify everything he does to complete his mission. Statham is well known for his legit martial arts background, which he has showcased in many of his films, but since his character has an extensive military background, he fights more like a highly trained mercenary, using straightforward punches, kicks and joint locks to break bones and subdue or kill enemies rather than flashy roundhouse kicks. He fights the way his character was written for the film.

The plot itself may feel cliche and may not be anything groundbreaking, but any action movie fan can’t deny that it’s a guilty pleasure to watch an exciting action flick with plenty of fights, guns blazing, and other intense action scenes with a simple story to give the main character the motivation he needs.

The Levon’s Trade novel series by Chuck Dixon is known for its exciting action and in-depth storytelling. There are currently 12 books in the series, all are well worth reading.

The film adaptation is based on the first book and makes two major changes. In the book, Levon is just acquaintances with the Garcia family, whereas, in the film, he’s buddies with them, which makes his mission a personal one, even turning down the large sum of money Joe offers him to find his missing daughter. Levon’s daughter also had a bigger role in the book, which explores more of his personal matters, but the film gives her a smaller but still important role to put more focus on Levon’s mission. Fans of the book may or may not like the changes, but versions are still enjoyable in their own ways.

A Working Man proves that a simple plot to justify all the gritty and violent action scenes is all you need to enjoy an exciting action thriller. Jason Statham fans will be in for a treat as he lights up the screen and his enemies with his no-nonsense cold demeanour and will stop at nothing until the job is done. It may not be in his top 10 films, but it is still a fun and exciting film nonetheless.

There’s no word on whether this will receive a sequel, as there are currently 11 more books in the series, but no one can argue that more Jason Statham is never a bad thing. Jason Statham’s performance as Levon Cade shows why you never mess with A Working Man.

Written by: Sammy Hanson