Play Dirty

This is a strange take on the parker books, miscast and the wrong genre. There's only one trait that the protagonist shares with parker and that is that he's a killer.

The film is fine for wasting a couple of hours on an action movie, it morphs into a james bond/fast and furious clone and does so competently.

A few laughs, a few bangs and some titillation - that should have been my title.

Ultimately, Play Dirty is fine. It clocks in at a slightly bloated two hours, offering moments of mild entertainment and professional craftsmanship, but lacking the originality or emotional depth to leave a lasting impression. It's the kind of film you'll forget you saw a week later, but won't regret watching while you were in the theater. If you are desperate for a weekend diversion and all the good seats are taken, Play Dirty will, well, play. But don't expect it to redefine the genre.

I gave Play Dirty a 6.5/10 because it's a mixed bag: some strong parts, some frustrating filler, but enough payoff to make it worthwhile.

The opening scenes are excellent... within the first 20 minutes the tension is sharp, the betrayal setup works, and you feel drawn into the ambition of the heist. But then the middle section sags.

For about an hour, the plot meanders: too many character motivations that never quite click, too many twists that add complexity without clarity. Some scenes feel there just to fill time, and occasionally the visuals and setting drop you out of immersion (fake-NY shots, shaky CGI?).

The final 25 minutes lift the film though. Stakes become clear, action sharpens up, and it redeems a lot of earlier dragging. Rosa Salazar in particular shines... when she appears she brings weight and energy. Wahlberg's Parker is competent, but less cunning or charismatic than I expected from earlier Parker adaptations.

Overall, Play Dirty is entertaining if you're willing to put up with uneven pacing. If you like big-scale heists, betrayals, and a strong finish, it delivers enough. If you need consistency or tight plotting throughout, it might frustrate.

Such a waste of great talent. It's like a bunch of fifth graders wrote and directed this convoluted plot-hole riddled nonsense. There were so many pointless scenes that seem like they should matter, but never do (e.g. Why always room 12?). Then it jumps between a serious tone to a lame comedy, like an failed SNL skit that didn't make the cut. Never mind the lack of any real plot advancement in between the useless scenes, the ridiculously slow pacing and overlong runtime. Don't even get me started on the horrible editing, especially in the first scene which set the stage for this messy nonsense. It's a generous 5/10 all for the all star cast doing their best with the garbage the filmmakers gave them to work with.

What exactly happened to Mark Wahlberg? He used to headline solid films like Shooter, The Departed, and even did great in comedy with The Other Guys. But lately, it feels like he signs up for every bad script that lands on his desk.

Play Dirty is just another forgettable entry on that list. Mark has the money and the reputation.. so why waste it on these throwaway projects? Honestly, the probability of him starring in a good movie these days feels like 1 out of 10, and that says a lot.

What is his agent even doing? Isn't their job to filter scripts and protect his career? Instead, they're turning him into a running joke. Mark deserves better, and so do we as the audience!