Levon Cade left his profession behind to work in 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.
Few actors embody consistency in action movies quite like Jason Statham. His films follow a well-worn path that fans have come to expect and appreciate—not because they’re groundbreaking but because they deliver exactly what they’re craving: straightforward, adrenaline-pumping entertainment.
In his latest film, he plays Levon Cade, a former Royal Marines commando who’s traded battlefield chaos for the structured world of construction. He’s found his place with the Garcias – Joe and Carla (Michael Peña and Noemi Gonzalez) – running their Chicago building company and watching their daughter Jenny (Arianna Rivas) grow up. But peace shatters when Jenny vanishes during a night of celebration.
When Joe learns about Levon’s military past, he begs for help finding his daughter. At first, Levon hesitates, wanting to keep his violent history buried. But after consulting his old Marine buddy Gunny Lefferty (David Harbour), and thinking about his own daughter Merry (Isla Gie), he can’t turn his back on the family that’s taken him in.
The search leads Levon into a deadly dance with Russian mobsters. After a tense meeting with crime boss Wolo Kolisnyk (Jason Flemyng) goes nowhere, Levon sends a brutal message by taking out key players, sparking an all-out war with the Russian syndicate. What follows is a masterclass in precision violence, as Levon systematically dismantles an enemy that foolishly underestimated him.
This film marks Statham’s second partnership with writer-director David Ayer and is a marked step up from their earlier collaboration, “The Beekeeper” (2024). While Statham stays true to his trademark intensity, the film’s focus on human trafficking gives real weight to his character’s rampage. The villains are genuinely despicable, making their eventual comeuppance deeply satisfying.
Though talented actors like Peña and Harbour don’t get as much screen time as they deserve, they make the most of their moments. The story wraps up neatly while leaving the door open for future installments. And while “The Beekeeper 2” is already in the works, “A Working Man” shows more promise as a potential franchise starter, given its stronger narrative foundation.
In Theaters Friday, March 28th
