Review: 'The Workout'

 

Review: 

'The Workout'

No, this is not a good movie. No, this is not a bad movie. This is just a movie. And in today’s Hollywood, that is something to be applauded. Because getting a film made — and released — is no small feat. Let’s be real: Hollywood is hard for everyone, but if you’re Asian, it’s even harder.

So, will "The Workout"  move any artistic or financial needles? No. Not at all. But should this film be allowed to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all the others? Absolutely. Every film deserves the right to stumble, fall, and get back up again. "The Workout" is no different.

The Setup

The premise is almost absurd enough to work. Wyatt (Peter Jae), a former Army Ranger, makes fitness videos with his pregnant wife, Becca (Galadriel Stineman, Until Dawn), and brother-in-law Levi (Josh Kelly). They’re all strapped into body cams — a hilarious visual gag that eventually folds into the film’s central gimmick. A family that works out together, fights together.

Things spiral quickly. Goons arrive. Guns go off. Becca is shot. Wyatt slips into a coma. Becca’s baby survives via emergency C-section. And Levi launches a fundraiser to keep Wyatt’s gym alive. That’s just the first act. Then comes the kicker: Wyatt wakes up, only to be diagnosed with a terminal brain condition. With his memories fading, he decides his daughter’s legacy will be a vigilante revenge video diary. Yes, you read that right.

The Gimmick

Director/co-writer James Cullen Bressack leans hard on POV shots and body cam footage. In theory, it should give "The Workout" an edge, something different in a crowded action market. In practice, it’s a mess. The perspectives don’t line up. A body cam during an MRI? Impossible. A character who isn’t wearing one suddenly has a POV feed? Unexplained. Night-vision in well-lit hallways? Pure inconsistency.

Even the fights — the one thing this kind of film has to nail — are cut into rapid-fire confusion. Instead of letting Peter Jae and Josh Kelly carry the action, Bressack undercuts them with distracting edits. Hardcore Henry proved POV action can work, but the film proves how quickly it can go wrong.

The Cast

Jae has the presence to pull off a straight-ahead revenge film. He’s no Jason Statham, but he doesn’t need to be. Kelly backs him up solidly. Stineman does what she can with limited screen time. Ashlee Evans-Smith as Tank brings some extra muscle to the mix. The talent is here. It’s the execution that falters.

The Problem

Consistency. If Wyatt wants his daughter to see him “fighting for justice,” why is he wearing a mask? Why chase down thugs on tape when a few workout routines would’ve made a much healthier legacy? These lapses in logic pile up until the whole narrative wobbles under their weight.

The Verdict

"The Workout" has all the ingredients of a standard action flick. Solid lead. A capable supporting cast. A simple revenge plot. But instead of trusting that, Bressack leans into gimmicks that don’t hold up under scrutiny. The result is frustrating — a movie with potential that talks itself out of success.

Still, I circle back to my opening point: this movie exists. And that matters. It premiered at Fantastic Fest 2024. The director spoke about the need for filmmakers to just create — without permission, without gatekeepers. That passion is clear. And in an industry rocked by strikes and uncertainty, maybe reminding ourselves why we make movies — to have fun telling stories — is enough.

Will The Workout change the game? No. But it has earned its right to be here, flaws and all.

Now streaming. 

CAST

• Peter Jae — Wyatt Park

• Josh Kelly — Levi

• Ashlee Evans-Smith — Tank

• Galadriel Stineman — Becca

• Augie Duke — Monroe

• Kristos Andrews — Tony Lorenzo

• David Joshua Lawrence — Detective O'Brien

• Maurice LaMarche — Michael Lorenzo

• BJ Hendricks — Dr. Kelly

• Jesse Kove — Trent

• James Cullen Bressack — Glitch

• Anjelino Chabrieay — Sal

• Chloe Hakola — Becca

• Nick Annunziata — Gio Antonucci

• Todd Senofonte — Luke Lorenzo

• Mario Daggett — Paul

• Adam Hutchinson — Bouncer

• Anna Harr — Alice

• Samantha Mack — Tiffany

• Brett Wheat — Bryan

• Molly Feinstein — Amber

CREDITS

Director:
James Cullen Bressack

Writers:
James Cullen Bressack
David Joshua Lawrence

Producers:
James Cullen Bressack, p.g.a.
Jarrett Furst, p.g.a.
Ben Stobber
David Joshua Lawrence

Executive Producers:
Valentina Cau
Mario Niccolo Messina

Co-Executive Producers:
BJ Hendricks
Gregori J. Martin
James Rundquist

Co-Producers:
Jessica Russo
Michele Kanan