A Working Man (2025) – Overview

Basic Info & Origins

• Title & Source: A Working Man is a 2025 action-thriller, adapted from the 2014 novel Levon’s Trade by Chuck Dixon.
• Creative Team: Directed by David Ayer; screenplay co-written with Sylvester Stallone
• Production & Release: Produced by Amazon MGM Studios (U.S.) and Warner Bros. Pictures (U.K.), it premiered theatrically in the U.S. and U.K. on March 28, 2025. In December 2024, the film’s title was changed from Levon’s Trade to A Working Man.
• Cast: Stars Jason Statham (Levon Cade), Michael Peña, David Harbour, Jason Flemyng, Arianna Rivas, Isla Gie, among others.

Plot Summary

• Protagonist: Levon Cade, a former Royal Marine Commando, now works in construction and is striving to gain custody of his young daughter, Merry, after his wife’s suicide.
• Inciting Incident: When Jenny, the teenage daughter of his employer (who is like family), is kidnapped by traffickers linked to the Russian mafia, Levon is drawn back into violent action.
• Action & Vigilantism: Rejecting payment, Levon enlists help from an old comrade, Gunny, to infiltrate the criminal organization, ultimately confronting high-ranking mob figures to rescue the girl.
• Blue-Collar Heroism: The film plays into a narrative of working-class justice and paternal duty, juxtaposing Levon’s construction-site normalcy with his lethal combat skills.

Reception & Box Office

• Financials: Produced on a budget of approximately $40 million, the film grossed around $98 million worldwide.
• Critics: Reviews were mixed-to-average:
  • Rotten Tomatoes: 47% positive from critics, with consensus calling it a competent “meat-and-potatoes” action film that lacks personality.
  • Metacritic: Score of 52/100, indicating “mixed or average” reviews.
  • Select Opinions:
    • The Guardian described it as serviceable but not ambitious—“the film doesn’t reach the giddy highs of Statham’s best”.
    • Hollywood Reporter noted pacing issues and overlong runtime, yet acknowledged some eccentric charm, seemingly influenced by Stallone’s style.
• Media Reviews:
  • Associated Press highlighted the “blue-collar heroism” framework and intense action sequences, rating it 2.5/4 stars.
  • Washington Post criticized the film for narrative inconsistency and lack of cohesion, rating it a forgettable entry in its genre.
  • Decider gave a “SKIP IT” verdict, citing bland storytelling and lack of tonal coherence despite Statham’s dependable performance.
  • The Times found the story overloaded with convoluted ideas and disorganized, leading to a two-star rating.
• Context: Entertainment Weekly still ranked it among Statham’s notable films, acknowledging its familiar action style and appeal to fans of the genre.

Final Thoughts

A Working Man delivers solid, no-frills action rooted in familiar Jason Statham territory: rugged, gritty, quick to dispatch the bad guys. It explores themes of redemption, fatherhood, and working-class grit, filtered through a bombastic, formulaic lens. While it doesn’t break new ground or win wide critical acclaim, it provides the expected thrills for devoted action movie fans.

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