Trouble Man

Ok, I have much respect for Michael Jai White and I've seen most of the movies he acts in.

This one is obvious that is very low budget. Acting is not good, fighting choreographies are well designed, but effects and direction are bad.

Script is so very cliche, you've seen variations of this movie before hundreds of times.

I'll be brutally honest, I've seen better green screen and effects from youtubers with zero budget.

Although he doesn't particularly like him, a private investigator named "Jaxen" (Michael Jai White) accepts a job from a wealthy music agent to find a popular R&B star named "Jahari" (La La Anthony), who may have relapsed into heroin use. Although the music agent, "Barnes Holden" (Orlando Jones), agrees to pay $50,000 for Jaxen to find her and bring her back, it soon becomes clear that there is much more to this missing R&B star than meets the eye, and the search quickly turns deadly. Instead of revealing any more, I will just say that I enjoyed this action movie mainly because the plot continued to evolve and become more intricate as the film progressed. Admittedly, Michael Jai White's acting was a bit over the top in some scenes, but he more than made up for it with his fighting skills. Additionally, I also liked the acting of both Cliff 'Method Man' Smith (as "Money") and Gillian White ("Gina"), who each contributed to the film in their own way. Be that as it may, although it had some weak spots here and there, I liked this movie for the most part and have rated it accordingly.

(2025) Trouble Man ACTION

Co-produced, directed and starring Michael Jai White that has him as a security and fixer, Jaxen that has him investigating a missing music artist, Jahari (La La Anthony) hired by producer, Barnes Holland (Orlando Jones) of record label Swerve City Records. He eventually teams up with Money (Cliff "Method Man" Smith) who sponsors Jahari music career. Jaxen is then introduced to investor, Yuen Song (Levy Tran) and her two guards, Fang (Noah Fleder) and Lung (Theodore Park) who may be behind the the disappearance of Jahari. And while this is happening, he is also juggling his love life, Gina Bowen (Gillian White) to which his profession prevents him from having a serious relationship.

Although Michael Jai White is a great martial artist, this movie does not do anything for him. As much as I wanted to like this movie, both the action and the tone is reminiscent to a straight to rental movie or in this case straight to online streaming. And although there are plenty of fights, they are just not inspiring as he was better on other films. There are also references of other blaxploitation movies of "Superfly" and Black Belt Jones etc....and Bruce Lee movies.

Michael Jai White's Trouble Man delivers surprisingly engaging action-comedy that punches above its weight.

Following ex-cop turned Atlanta PI Jaxen hunting missing R&B star Jahari, the investigation spirals into conspiracy territory with enough twists to stay interesting.

White directs himself capably, keeping things brisk with genuine genre understanding. The Atlanta setting provides authentic atmosphere, and Method Man offers decent support, though the acting quality wobbles throughout.

Budget constraints kill the action sequences stone dead. Fight scenes feel stagey, chase sequences lack punch, and supporting performances range from adequate to wooden. White's charismatic presence can't mask these technical shortcomings.

What works is the film's genuine affection for classic detective stories. It's comfort food cinema-familiar, unpretentious, moderately entertaining despite obvious limitations. This would've found its audience easily in the 1990s, but feels slightly adrift now.

Rating: 6.5/10 (Decent detective story hampered by budget reality and uneven execution)

Fight choreography is good it's failed by the low budget and awful green screen. Film scream one of those Christmas movies on a hallmark channel but it's action. Method man brings some comedy to the film and saves the film. Michael jai white is definitely aging but can still move.

Post credit scene is ridiculous.