Play Dirty Is Just Stupid Enough to Entertain

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While there’s no official “movie jail,” writer-director Shane Black found himself in a tough spot after a couple of unsuccessful films. His 2018 movie, The Predator, was a complicated addition to the franchise – some liked it, but it was largely considered a failure. Before that, he created The Nice Guys (2016), a charming and somewhat sprawling neo-noir comedy that’s gained a following, but didn’t attract many viewers at the time. Those two films seemed to erase the positive impression he made with the huge success of Iron Man 3 in 2013. Now, Black is back with the new action comedy Play Dirty, starring Mark Wahlberg. It’s being released only on Prime Video, and it seems like it barely has a marketing budget – almost no one I know has even heard of it.

Shane Black’s screenwriting work on films like Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and The Long Kiss Goodnight brought him significant financial success and also made him known for the over-the-top violence common in 1980s and 90s action movies. Now, Play Dirty feels like a return to the witty dialogue and over-the-top action that first made him famous. However, it almost feels like it’s trying to outdo a style of filmmaking that isn’t really made anymore-it’s as if it comes from a different reality where American action movies became increasingly violent, eventually reaching the extreme level seen in Play Dirty.

It’s inspired by, though not a direct adaptation of, Donald Westlake’s Parker novels, taking pieces of the story from various books. However, it lacks the cold, almost emotionless style that was a hallmark of Westlake’s writing. Instead, it’s over-the-top and darkly comedic – the type of film where Mark Wahlberg might return a piece of someone’s ear after it’s been shot off. The movie starts with a completely wild robbery at a racetrack that quickly becomes part of the horse race itself, with cars, jockeys, and horses crashing and being killed amidst the gunfire and general mayhem.

After a heist gone wrong-where his whole team is betrayed and killed-professional thief Parker (Wahlberg) sets out to recover his money and get revenge. He quickly finds himself embroiled in something far larger and more complex, centering around the recently discovered treasure from a 15th-century Spanish shipwreck. This underwater fortune, valued at around a billion dollars and found off the coast of an unnamed Latin American nation, is slated for display at the United Nations, making it a target for numerous thieves. The result is a whirlwind of truck chases and car chases, club shoot-outs, people falling from buildings, and even a spectacular train derailment. There’s a lot of action-and approximately 197 shots of Mark Wahlberg using other people as human shields as they’re riddled with bullets. It’s less a cohesive narrative and more a showcase of various forms of violence. In a bizarre moment, Mark Cuban randomly appears as himself and is immediately shot. (Spoiler.)

But is it actually good? Play Dirty embraces its silliness wholeheartedly, even flaunting it. It practically challenges you to find anything believable, realistic, or even thoughtful within it. You’ll either connect with its vibe and enjoy the ride, or you’ll be completely turned off. I generally enjoyed it. As a director, Black has a relaxed style when it comes to dialogue and the storyline. He smartly avoids focusing too much on any single detail, because the story-or what passes for a story-only works if it moves quickly, staying ahead of your ability to overthink it. Did you wonder how the main character survived a particularly violent and explosive situation? Too bad, because he’s already in another one! Even the film’s somewhat clumsy visual effects and obviously fake locations (particularly the scenes meant to be in “New York”) fit with its rebellious attitude. Wahlberg seems to be having fun with it too. As he ages, his prominent eyebrows look even more exaggerated. You can’t quite tell if he’s confused or frustrated, which is actually perfect for this character, whose main purpose is to keep the ridiculous plot moving forward.

Even though I thought Play Dirty was funny, watching it at home on TV didn’t make me laugh a lot. Instead, it put me in a strangely relaxed and agreeable state of mind. The film’s silliness was enjoyable, but it also allowed me to switch off and not think too much. It was simply *there*, and I didn’t feel the need to change the channel. Roger Ebert often discussed the difference between actively watching a film in a cinema and passively watching video at home. While he was referring to the different formats, the contrast between seeing a movie in the cinema versus at home feels similar. Do you think a film like Play Dirty could be released widely in theaters today?

I’d like to think so, but I’m hesitant. Seeing this movie with a big crowd would likely be a completely different experience. It reminds me of when I saw the new Naked Gun earlier this year with an audience. The two films actually have quite a bit in common. (Actually, The Naked Gun might even be a little more believable than Play Dirty.) Even though one focuses on delivering jokes and the other on providing thrills, the audience’s energy really drives both movies forward. If you start taking either film too seriously, it ruins the fun. At the same time, it feels like we’ve lost the ability to simply enjoy and laugh at movies these days. Play Dirty might bring back memories of a certain kind of action movie, but it also shows you why those movies aren’t made as often anymore.

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2025-09-30 19:55