WFG RATING: A-

Samuel Goldwyn Films presents a Jaigantic production. Directed by Michael Jai White. Produced by Craig Baumgarten, Michael Jai White, and Ron Robinson. Written by Michael Stradford. Cinematography by Keith L. Smith. Edited by Scott Richter.

Stars Michael Jai White, Clifford “Method Man” Smith, Orlando Jones, Gillian White, Levy Tran, Noah Fleder, Theodore Park, Vernell Varnado, Robert Wilmote, and La La Anthony.

Michael Jai White returns to the director’s chair in this action comedy where when he needs to make the fans chuckle, does so; and when he needs to kick some serious butt, delivers as usual!

Jaxen is a former Atlanta cop who changed careers and began work as a private investigator and occasional club bouncer. One of his former clients is Jahari, an aspiring singer getting ready to record her new album. During his night job at the club, Jaxen runs into former flame Gina, who has become a manager looking for new talent. As the two slowly rekindle their flame, Jaxen gets a frantic call from Jahari’s manager. She has disappeared and is believed to have resorted back to her old drug habits.

Jaxen takes the job to rescue her. With help from his friend Money as well as Gina, Jaxen begins to investigate. Along the way, he discovers some shady things and inadvertently gets involves with a local Asian gang led by the venomous Yuen Song. At first, Yuen believes someone ratted Jaxen out about their operation. Despite believing there is no connection between Yuen’s gang and Jahari’s disappearance at first, Jaxen finds himself discovering that not everyone he knows can be trusted.

Along with Hostile Takeover, this has been quite a year for Michael Jai White in terms of action-comedies. Playing a man who gets in trouble seems to be his forte and when he can’t talk his way out of it, he does what he does best. Kick butt and take names. In this film, White not only stars but once again takes the director’s chair. We seen him in the opening minutes confronting a gym rat who abused his wife and warns him not to do it again. When he is rebuffed, he pulls a move reminiscent of his character on the Tyler Perry series For Better or Worse. Nonchalantly taking his hat and jacket off before defending himself against the punk.

White once again delivers and in the spirit of some of his previous action comedies, he has a supporting cast that when called for, serves as the perfect foils for his comedy. One such character is Vernell Varnado’s doorman Willis, who reminds me of Bill Byrne’s character in Ernest Goes to Jail but actually speaks with such hilarious comebacks, leading White to say the iconic Diff’rent Strokes line (you know…THAT one). Gillian White once again comes into the mix as love interest Gina, a strong woman whose aspirations seems to be partly why the two never kept their flame going until they realize their love for one another. They even engage in a nice little Wing Chun exchange.

Speaking of action, kudos must go out to Art School Dropouts’ Joey Min and Stephanie Pham. If you haven’t seen their stuff on YouTube, you’re missing out. Along with Martial Club, they have made the comfortable transition from viral sensations to working on major films. White as always looks excellent in the film when it comes to his action scenes, especially a few two-on-one battles against the likes of Noah Fleder and Theodore Park, playing Yuen Song’s henchmen.

Trouble Man is loads of fun and brings exciting action to the forefront with Michael Jai White once again front and center. White delivers again in front and behind the cameras. If you are a fan of his, this is a must-see!