Review: A Working Man (2025) – Stallone’s Blueprint, Statham’s Misfire

A Working Man

It’s a tough pill to swallow, but A Working Man is a victim of its own ambition. It's a film that tries to be too much and ends up delivering far too little. You could close your eyes and still feel Sylvester Stallone’s fingerprints all over it. That gritty, hyper-masculine energy is unmistakable, but unfortunately, it leans more toward a parody of ’80s action flicks than a true homage. Think Commando, Red Dawn, and Rambo, but the “poor man’s” version, and that’s being generous.

Jason Statham, usually reliable in these kinds of roles, does his best with what he’s given, but it’s simply not enough. The movie drowns in convoluted subplots, overacted melodrama, and pacing that drags like it’s carrying the weight of three films. Is the blame on the screenwriter or the source material? (The movie is based on the Levon Cade book series.) Either way, what should’ve been a straightforward “Statham takes down the bad guys” thrill ride spirals into an overstuffed mess.

I was hoping for the streamlined punch of The Beekeeper 2 or the sheer fun of The Meg, but instead, I was left navigating a maze of sinkhole-sized plot holes. It’s a shame to say, but Statham’s talents were wasted here. A Working Man is anything but efficient.

2ish/5