Written by Alaka SahaniUpdated: October 5, 2025 05:00 PM IST 3 min readPlay Dirty movie review: During the initial 12 minutes of Play Dirty—after which the opening credits start rolling—the film builds an exciting momentum typical of a heist movie, promising car chases (extending even to a horse-racing track), gunfights, and several twists. The movie, based on the ‘Parker’ book series by Donald E. Westlake, however, quickly loses that momentum as the story of robbers robbing other robbers turns chaotic.A crime caper being chaotic could have been fun. But the movie, directed by Shane Black (the creator of the Lethal Weapon franchise) becomes drab despite Mark Wahlberg leading the action as Parker, an expert thief. For the most part, Wahlberg takes his assignment as an action hero seriously. He doesn’t emote much, even as he fights and wields guns with precision. Yet, the proceedings over the film’s 128-minute runtime mostly lack spark. Even the multiple face-offs between adversaries fail to make it thrilling for the audience.The action-thriller follows Parker, who along with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar), and a skilled crew, stumbles upon a score that pits them against the New York mob. In Zen, Parker finds both an opponent and an ally. As Parker navigates the world of crime, the film introduces several potentially fascinating characters: Grofield runs an amateur theatre company, while another criminal can’t stand two people bickering because he comes from a broken home. Yet, the film misses the mark when it comes to making the banter between characters entertaining or the quirks of its ensemble endearing.Could this be because the central conflict feels flimsy and the plot wafer-thin? Or, is it because the characters are forgettable? It’s likely both factors make this crime drama dull, even as guns blaze and bodies drop; in one sequence, a man is flung out of buildings and onto vehicles. These sequences, though visually striking, resemble scenes where snow keeps falling: pretty to look at but emotionally empty.Also Read | Steve movie review: Cillian Murphy film is a hit and missOne of the weakest elements in this overlong thriller is the chemistry between Parker and Zen. While some level of attraction and flirtation between them is expected to enliven the narrative, they never quite manage to generate that spark.Play Dirty movie director: Shane BlackPlay Dirty movie cast: Mark Wahlberg, LaKeith Stanfield, Rosa Salazar, Keegan-Michael Key, Chukwudi Iwuji, Nat Wolff, Gretchen MolPlay Dirty movie rating: 2 starsClick here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Mark Wahlberg