Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Nice Guys) has been making action buddy comedies for nearly four decades, but with Play Dirty, his signature template feels a bit creaky. Mark Wahlberg. Play Dirty is overflowing with convoluted double crosses and schemes, and Parker decides to participate in this operation in order to net close to $1 billion. Black is in his element writing profanely jokey repartee for members of a ragtag unit, and Play Dirty is funniest whenever it slows down for a second and lets its characters trade good-natured barbs. With no one in actual danger (except the anonymous bad guys whom Parker unceremoniously executes), and zero doubt about the antihero’s eventual triumph, Play Dirty is a spectacle without stakes or suspense.