Mark Wahlberg's Lost His Touch. His New Movie Left Critics Unimpressed, Calling It "Dumb"

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Mark Wahlberg stars in a new film, but audiences and critics are divided — is he still the action hero we remember, or has he lost his edge?

Shane Black's latest effort "Play Dirty" made a splashy Prime Video debut (dropping October 1st), but reviews have been far from enthusiastic. Metacritic delivered a lukewarm 55, with critics throwing around words like "dumb," "predictable," and "hollow."

First Impressions

Some say phones it in, with his Parker coming across as neither menacing nor likable. The actor especially struggled next to Lakeith Stanfield — who, according to reviewers, "stole every scene without even trying."
Play Dirty movie trailer
Others found decent humor, snappy pacing, and flashy shootouts that keep things moving.

What Critics Are Saying

  • The Hollywood Reporter: "Wahlberg doesn't bring much charisma, especially when playing opposite actor Lakeith Stanfield, who outshines everyone in every scene without even trying."
  • TheWrap: "It's hard to picture Wahlberg as Parker even after two hours of the film."
  • Collider: "Black still knows how to craft equally funny and kinetic comedy with all the signature touches we love him for."
  • Paste Magazine: "A wild mix of action, comedy, and crime story that's openly absurd but well-executed thanks to deliberately silly characters and solid jokes."

What It's About

The story follows a thief named Parker (Mark Wahlberg) who gets recruited for a major heist. He assembles a crew and teams up with partners nicknamed Grofield and Zen.
Actor Mark Wahlberg in a burgundy jacket looking to the side
Scene from Play Dirty
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On paper, it's classic criminal action with an adventurous spirit, but many viewers compared the plot to a ball of clichés.

Should You Watch It?

If you're expecting "Play Dirty" to mark a new chapter in Mark Wahlberg's career — don't hold your breath. This is more background viewing, where humor carries the load when the script stalls. But if you want mindless action with a few decent laughs and charismatic Stanfield, it's worth a shot.

What to Watch Instead

Curiously, another film with the same title came out in 1969 starring Michael Caine. And that one critics actually call a genuine classic. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a perfect 100% "fresh" rating.

There's no overloaded editing or forced jokes, just a powerful war drama about a squad of ex-convicts sent on a deadly mission. The irony? Half a century later, the "old" "Play Dirty" looks way fresher than the new one. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com reported that IMDb viewers gave high marks to the anime "Nyaight of the Living Cat" from the creators of "Berserk."