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<v Speaker 1>On Today's Real Reviews, We're diving into trouble Man. No,

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<v Speaker 1>not the Marvin Gaye scored classic from nineteen seventy two,

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<v Speaker 1>but a brand new action comedy throwback, starring and directed

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<v Speaker 1>by Michael John White. This twenty twenty five version. Cass

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<v Speaker 1>White is Jackson, a former Atlanta cop term private investigator

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<v Speaker 1>who gets dragged back into the chaos when rising R

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<v Speaker 1>and B star Jahari played by l Lah Anthony, goes missing.

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<v Speaker 1>What starts out as a simple missing person's case quickly

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<v Speaker 1>wors into something much more dangerous, with layers of the seat,

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<v Speaker 1>buried secrets, and enough side eye to fill a season

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<v Speaker 1>of power. As Jackson retraces Jahari's steps through the murky

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<v Speaker 1>Atlanta music scene, shady clubs, crooked managers, and old flame drama,

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<v Speaker 1>he uncovers a trail that hints at something much deeper,

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<v Speaker 1>a conspiracy involving industry corruption, money laundering, and blackmail. Jihari,

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<v Speaker 1>though mostly absent on screen, casts a long emotional shadow.

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<v Speaker 1>Anthony's performance is brief and frankly underwhelming, but she serves

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<v Speaker 1>more as a symbol of Jackson's guilt and savior complex

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<v Speaker 1>than as a fully realized character. Tagging along for the

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<v Speaker 1>ride is method Man, who plays Jahari's current boyfriend Money,

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<v Speaker 1>and let's be honest, Meth steals just about every scene

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<v Speaker 1>he's in. His natural charisma, timing and slight dettack brings

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<v Speaker 1>much needed levity to a film that at times takes

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<v Speaker 1>itself too seriously. Add in Jillian White, Yes, Michael's real

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<v Speaker 1>like wife has a tough, no nonsense form of flame

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<v Speaker 1>with some killer martial arts skills of her own, and

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<v Speaker 1>you've got a trio that should work. The chemistry is there,

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<v Speaker 1>but the script doesn't give them enough to do. Visually,

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<v Speaker 1>the film has polished you can tell White knows how

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<v Speaker 1>to shoot action. The fight scenes are tight, the stunts

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<v Speaker 1>to clean, and the pacing moves just fast enough to

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<v Speaker 1>keep your attention. But only the fists stop flying. The

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<v Speaker 1>dialogue doesn't carry the same punch. The emotional beats field thin,

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<v Speaker 1>and while the film wants to say something about past

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<v Speaker 1>regrets in industry rot, it never goes deep enough to

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<v Speaker 1>really land those themes. The tone leans heavily into nostalgia,

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<v Speaker 1>from the soundtrack to the wardrobe to the slow motion

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<v Speaker 1>stretched down the sidewalk, you can feel the shaft and

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<v Speaker 1>superfly influence, oozing from the edges, and interestingly enough, there

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<v Speaker 1>are clear parallel parallels. Excuse me to the nineteen seventy

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<v Speaker 1>two Robert Hook's classic, which also followed a slick PI

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<v Speaker 1>navigating dangerous underworld politics. But trouble Man doesn't elevate that formula.

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<v Speaker 1>It simply recycles it. And yes, you can find all

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<v Speaker 1>the usual Jonre tropes here, corrupt record executives, asing gangsters,

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<v Speaker 1>and the inevitable martial arts face off. It's comfort food filmmaking,

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<v Speaker 1>and if you're coming in just to see Michael joh

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<v Speaker 1>White throw down a couple of well choreographed fight scenes,

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<v Speaker 1>you won't be disappointed. Trouble Man is stylish but slight.

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<v Speaker 1>It has the players, the pedigree and the potential, but

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<v Speaker 1>it's weighed down by a predictable story and emotional threads

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<v Speaker 1>that don't quite tie together. Unkle John White brings the muscle,

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<v Speaker 1>nothing Man brings the laughs, and Jillian White brings the edge,

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<v Speaker 1>but they all deserve a better script. I gave this

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<v Speaker 1>film a C. Now you can catch this if you're

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<v Speaker 1>in the move for some low stakes action with retro vibes,

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<v Speaker 1>just don't expect to leave with a lasting impression. That's

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<v Speaker 1>it for this edition of Real Reviews. For more reviews, interviews,

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<v Speaker 1>and commentary on all things black, film and beyond, head

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<v Speaker 1>over to the Film Gordon. Follow us on socials at

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<v Speaker 1>Film Gordon. I'm Tim Gordon and until next time, keep

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<v Speaker 1>it real and keep it real. Peace,