Streaming has been labeled as a way to limit the ambitions of a film’s reach since it tends to carry the same word of mouth as theatrical releases. However, with the internet anything is possible and, in a post K-Pop Demon Hunters world, it seems anything that people could make TikTok and Reels of has potential.
With that in mind, here comes Play Dirty.
This new Shane Black film is more reminiscent of his older work on films like Lethal Weapon. Black is still bringing the slick dialogue and conveying twists that he’s been using since the 80s. The real question then for its success lies in the way this group of actors can capture his dialogue and whether or not it can get the laughs and attention of those watching at home. Play Dirty did that for me at multiple points and, while the plot probably won’t blow people away, I think this is a more than worthy instalment in the host of streaming original action thrillers that we’ve gotten this decade.
Play Dirty is adapted from Donald Westlake’s Parker series, which he created under a pseudonym. His other novels have been adapted into films like No Other Choice (incidentally, my top film of 2025) and The Actor (2025). So, it’s been quite the year for his work, even though adaptions of his books have been coming out since the 1960s.
This adaption follows Parker (Mark Wahlberg) and his crew of skilled thieves as one heist after another goes wrong while Parker tries to escape the guilt and boredom that his normal life would bring. Soon, he finds himself slung in a hard-to-win situation, an impossible to pull off heist and a crew that includes a woman who he cannot trust. Parker calls upon Grofield (Lakeith Stanfield), a con artist extraordinaire who can work his way out of any situation.
Dirty has all the qualities of a Shane Black script at his best. It has witty and clever set-ups through its dialogue. Characters say and do unexpected things within single scenes that completely contradict what has been set up but in a way that creates humor or intrigue rather than disappointment. This does result in a plot that is convoluted at first glance but fairly simple in reality. A Glass Onion if you will. Still this is a constantly entertaining film that establishes quickly that anyone could betray anyone and anyone could die at any moment. This combined with slick dialogue which has characters jockeying for power and to be the smartest in the room leaves each scene with an element of tension that lasts even through the more larger than life action set pieces that we encounter.
The characters are developed more through their unique traits as criminals rather than people who we give heavy emotional investment. The film definitely revolves around its twisting plot points and uses actors like Keegan Michael Key, Stanfield, Chai Hansen and Claire Lovering as memorable and funny characters who don’t get much more than that. The action set pieces are often filled with interesting turns. The way that the heists go down is unexpected and intriguing though doesn’t always make the most of the filmmaking potential in some of these scenes. It does stretch believability as Hollywood blockbusters are prone to do but you understand the logic of how the action works and it makes some sequences quite satisfying.
Mark Wahlberg is a bit underwhelming as a lead actor in 2025. The guy has talent and some line deliveries really work for Mark’s more stern and direct tone. Even so, I do believe that there would be more interesting actors to take on a role like this. He is serviceable at worst and funny at best, though I think Stanfield as his partner-in-crime does get more interesting chances to steal the spotlight. Even the femme fatale Zen, played by Rosa Salazar, brings in a charisma that often felt lacking. The tangents Wahlberg and Stanfield go on in the middle of high stakes crime situations though is quite funny. They do have pretty good chemistry, though its not as sharp as past Shane Black duos like Downey and Kilmer or Gosling and Crowe.
The film also exhibits some good framing but nothing captures your eye or surprises you in its presentation. When you don’t have the aid of the big screen, one would hope more movies would add interesting VFX touches or dramatic camera movementss into what is clearly a fun and humorous action romp. Unfortunately, that is missing from this but does aid the dialogue, which is great. I did laugh out loud by myself so if you’re looking for a film that might do that then this is certainly worth a watch.
Play Dirty is available on Prime Video now.
