Movie Review: ‘Play Dirty’

Starring Mark Wahlberg (‘The Fighter’) as inveterate thief Parker, the cast also includes LaKeith Stanfield (‘Sorry to Bother You’), Rosa Salazar (‘Alita: Battle Angel’), Tony Shalhoub (‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’) and Nat Wolff (‘Paper Towns’).

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Initial Thoughts

Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

Once the king of the 1980s and 1990s action-comedy script sale, since turning his hand to directing, Shane Black has had a somewhat more mixed career. There have been definite highs (‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and ‘Iron Man 3’) and true lows (his most recent directorial effort was the ill-fated ‘The Predator’ back in 2018). And even when he’s hit the mark, the box office results have not been kind (‘The Nice Guys’ really deserved better).

With ‘Play Dirty’, he’s got some choice (if frequently adapted) source material in Donald E. Westlake’s Parker character, and while he manages to pull off a convincing, double-triple-quadruple-crossing crime caper, there’s a big problem sitting squarely at the top of the cast list.

Script and Direction

Director Shane Black at the premiere of ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

Black, working here with Charles Mondry (2024’s ‘Road House’) and Anthony Bagarozzi (who co-wrote ‘The Nice Guys’ with the director), has cooked up a twisty heist thriller that draws from Westlake’s novels but isn’t a direct adaptation of any of them.

It’s certainly chock full of action, though the pacing suffers some when the filmmaker takes his foot off the gas (or the train pedal) to dig down into exposition, but that is largely carried by some great actors spouting swear-laden dialogue at each other. Oh, and no points for guessing that the movie is set during Black’s trademark Christmas season.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Stan (Chai Hansen), Parker (Mark Wahlberg), and Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield) in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

The elephant in the room in ‘Play Dirty’s case is Mark Wahlberg, who brings about as much charisma to the lead role as some wet, peeling wallpaper. It’s even harder to stomach when you know that Black’s old pal Robert Downey Jr. was originally attached to star.

Still, the rest of the cast essentially act Wahlberg off the screen, with particular plaudits due the likes of Rosa Salazar, Keegan-Michael Key, LaKeith Stanfield and Tony Shalhoub, the latter getting to show off his gangster side with aplomb.

Final Thoughts

Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

While nowhere near a classic Shane Black offering (come on Prime Video, just buy the rights and let him reunite Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe for ‘The Nice Guys 2’!), it’s diverting enough, even if the lead character is something of a joyless chore rather than the sharp criminal of the books.

‘Play Dirty’ receives 70 out of 100.

Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

What’s the story of ‘Play Dirty’?

An expert thief rolls out the biggest heist of his life as Parker (Mark Wahlberg), along with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar) and a skilled crew, stumble onto a score that pits them against the New York mob.

Who is in the cast of ‘Play Dirty’?

Mark Wahlberg as Parker
LaKeith Stanfield as Grofield
Rosa Salazar as Zen
Tony Shalhoub as Lozini
Keegan-Michael Key as Ed Mackey
Nat Wolff as Kincaid
Chukwudi Iwuji as Phineas Paul
Thomas Jane as Philly Webb

Director Shane Black at the premiere of ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

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