A Working Man

I have a particular set of skills and sitting through this movie is not one of them. This movie tried so hard to emulate others of a genre, the classic revenge flick.... but fails miserabl. I didn't find myself attached to any character or empathetic, sympathetic, or even just rooting for anyone at any given moment including the star of the movie. The pacing is too slow. The action is almost comical. I'm guessing it was meant to be that way, but unlike DC movies that pull it off this was just laughable... I was so disinterested that even by the climactic end it was just going through the paces to see who lives and who dies. Hollywood forgets that great writing makes great movies.... and the writing for this was juvenile, not creative and simply not entertaining... I had higher hopes for something written by and produced by Sylvester Stallone, who knows action movies.

Jason Statham plays the same character that he does in every other one of his movies, of course, but A Working Man is more of a Steven Seagal-like straight-to-video effort, i.e. An extra dumb plot, big plot holes, cartoonish characters, over-the-top acting, and of course Statham has to say things like "I don't want any trouble" before beating the crap out of everyone. I could probably write a book about all the dumb things that are said in this movie, but I'll just give one: When a mother's daughter is kidnapped by a Russian crime mob, the police tell her "they don't pursue these cases." Ok well, I guess vigilante justice is our only option then.

I just left the theaters about 20 minutes ago . I like it

The movie might draw the usual criticisms. Statham essentially plays the same character that he's played in many of his other films. There are several plot holes (e.g. How can he walk away from a massacre so easily?). The story is predictable and trite. There are impossible tropes, such as a main character who somehow avoids getting shot when the bad guys fire a machine gun right at him

But even with all those "problems" -- the movie is good for just one reason: Jason Statham is so good in the role. He looks and acts the part, and the way he can impart elements of comedy without diminshing the vibe is mesmerizing. For example - even when he's interrogating someone or getting ready to break someone's nose, he can make you smile and laugh with a one-liner or even a mere glance. I just don't know how anyone could watch a Statham movie and not find him likable. When you watch this movie, you just can't help but get behind his character and pull for him to come through unharmed. I love the scenes involving him and his character's daughter too

The movie has some good fighting scenes, as most Statham movies do. The villains are alright,. I do feel that the missing girl brings down the film a few times. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that we see her kick some butt and do other things to appear brave or charming. Instead, she came off as annoying. Nobody buys that this little girl could fight, and seeing her act brave and fearless in front of the villains took some magic off Statham's actions: Statham seems less brave when he confronts the bad Russian mafia because we see a little girl stand up to them. The girl should've played the scared and helpless damsel in distress

7.5/10.

Levon Cade (Jason Statham) is a working man. He is ex-British military. His wife committed suicide while he was away on duty. He is now struggling to raise their daughter. He works construction for the beloved Garcia family. One night, Jenny Garcia gets kidnapped while out at a bar with her friends. Levon takes on the Russian mob to find her.

Jason Statham is well within his comfort zone in this action B-movie. The action is fun. The production is pretty good and better than the average B-movie. The story is fine. Jenny should probably be Levon's daughter instead. The villains are comic-book adjacent. They should really stop asking, "Why he's doing this for one girl?" It gets annoying and dumb. I thought he should leave those missing person flyers every time he kills a gangster. This is mostly fine for what it is.

Original, exciting and intelligent! You've never seen Jason Statham in a movie like this before... is something I won't be saying about 'A Working Man' or probably any future Statham movie. You can easily fill in the all too familiar blanks. Jason is an ex____ who has put those days behind him. Now he must return to his old ways and rescue _____ while kicking the bad guys asses along the way.

The first act bolts out of the gate at a rapid pace, so fast in fact, I thought I was watching the trailer.

A lot of the dialogue was inaudible, maybe because of the British people doing bad American or Russian accents. Which would explain why most of the film was trying to pass off England as Chicago.

I was never sure if it was being played for laughs, with sudden dramatic head turns and theatrical musical stings. Making it all feel a bit camp - especially when the villains are dressed as vampires or like they've fallen into a lost property box.

Thanks to co-screenwriter Sylvester Stallone, you're pummelled with cliche after cliche, desperately trying to emulate the classic action movies of the 80's but missing the target by a mile. The unintentionally funny scenes do deliver some laugh out loud moments which make the experience more bearable. I wasn't expecting much, but I was expecting to be more entertained than I was.

So, If you enjoy Statham being Statham and aren't in the mood for something new, then by all means, knock yourself out and give this a go.

• Nick

@WatchItWombat.