Play Dirty (2025)

Play Dirty doesn't start off well. The opening sequence, set up like an adrenaline fuelled cold open, is rather dumb. Not only does it not make sense from a narrative point of view, it downplays the emotional stakes. The film tells us not to take it seriously. Black is credited at shaping the buddy/comedy subgenre and he's here to do what he does well. He just isn't trying that hard. 

And that's okay. Cause what follows is light, if rather forgettable, fun. It's campy but not in a clever way. It's funny, but rarely to the point you laugh that hard. It's an interesting enough story, without being that involved. It is the sort of film you can look at your phone throughout without missing much. 

The cast is having a good time mostly. I adore Stanfeld and he is clearly enjoying himself here making what he can with the part. Key and Shalhoub do their things to strong effect. Some of the newer cast stand out. I really enjoyed Hansen and Wolff. Only Wahlberg feels like he thinks this is something serious, but the rest of the group is having fun. 

Black pulls from a lot of influences here from the film's Bond inspired credit sequence to setting his story at Christmas time. But perhaps the biggest influence is how much this takes from his own film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Play Dirty is very slight but watchable enough. Could it be the start of a series of films based on the Parker book series on which this is based? There is likely a better movie to be maid so why not? 

Play Dirty

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Lakeith Stanfeld, Rosa Salazar, Keegan-Michael Key, Chukwudi Iwuji, Nat Wolff, Thomas Jane, Tony Shalhoub, Gretchen Mol, Peta Wilson, Chai Hansen

Diretor: Shane Black

Writers: Charles Mondry, Anthony Bagarozzi, Shane Black