Shane Black’s latest, "Play Dirty," a big-screen adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s Parker crime novels, unfortunately falls short, feeling like a pale imitation of his previous acclaimed works.
The film features Mark Wahlberg as Parker, a quiet and tough professional thief. His crew is wiped out by a rival robber, Zen (Rosa Salazar), after a high-octane car chase that hints at the movie’s overall lack of genuine excitement. Driven by revenge, Parker eventually tracks down Zen, only to discover she’s planning an even bigger score: stealing a billion dollars’ worth of ancient artifacts and jewels from a recently discovered 15th-century shipwreck. Her ambitious goal? To use the proceeds to help alleviate hunger in an unnamed Latin American nation.
Setting aside their initial animosity, Parker and Zen decide to team up. They recruit a colorful gang in New York, including the flamboyant Groefield (played by LaKeith Stanfield), to craft a meticulously detailed plan. This plan not only focuses on executing the daring heist but also on avoiding the deadly retribution of The Outfit, a powerful crime syndicate led by Lozini (Tony Shalhoub), which is illicitly profiting from these historical treasures with the backing of a corrupt president (Alejandro Edda).
While Black attempts to recreate the raw, character-driven violence seen in his earlier successes like the 2005 action-comedy “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and the 1996 action-thriller “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” “Play Dirty” ultimately comes across as a rather cynical film. This isn’t necessarily a flaw on its own, but Mark Wahlberg’s somewhat rigid performance struggles to make the relentless on-screen death feel engaging or justified. Coupled with a rather murky 1970s-inspired jazz soundtrack and Parker’s seemingly privileged position amidst a backdrop of struggling Latin American characters, the film leaves you feeling like you need a refreshing cleanse.
Play Dirty
Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexual content, and nudity. Running time: 2 hours 5 minutes. Available on Amazon Prime Video.