After 7 Years, 'The Nice Guys' Creator Finally Returns, Landing a #1 Heist Movie on Prime Video

After seven years of silence, Shane Black, the director of cult classics such as The Nice Guys and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, has returned to the director's chair.

His new film, Play Dirty, based on Donald E. Westlake's novels about the burglar Parker, instantly shot to number one on Prime Video. But did it live up to the high expectations of Black's fans?

What Is 'Play Dirty' About?

After a bank heist, professional robber Parker (Mark Wahlberg) is betrayed during the division of the loot. His crew is gunned down by the mercenary Zen (Rosa Salazar), who escapes with the money.

Parker survives and sets out in pursuit of revenge. However, Zen has a compelling motive: she plans to finance a coup in her country by robbing a tyrant who is selling national treasures.

Parker decides to join the venture, hoping to kill two birds with one stone – restore justice and receive substantial compensation.

'Play Dirty' Features a Star-Studded Cast & Worthy Original Source, but Lacks a Unique Vision

All the ingredients for success seem to be in place: a strong literary foundation of cynical crime novels and a brilliant ensemble cast, including Mark Wahlberg, LaKeith Stanfield, and Rosa Salazar.

Black displays flashes of his signature wit, however, these striking moments are lost in the overall flow. Potentially brilliant setups remain underexplored, leaving a sense of missed opportunity.

Despite Being Made by Black, 'Play Dirty' Looks Like a Generic Streaming Action Flick

Play Dirty's main paradox is that it was made by a trendsetter, not a copycat, director – Black is renowned for his masterful reimagining of genre clichés.

However, Play Dirty looks like any other straight-to-streaming action flick of recent years that doesn't offer anything fresh and unique.

'Play Dirty' Can Brighten Up Your Evening, But It's Better to Revisit Other Shane Black Movies

Ultimately, Play Dirty is an enjoyable but disappointingly average film. It will entertain you for an evening if you don't expect more from a movie than light action and a few good jokes.

However, if you were expecting a return to the caliber of The Nice Guys or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, you'll likely be disappointed.

While Play Dirty confirms that Black still has a keen sense of the genre, he lacked the courage or ability to create something truly bold and memorable this time.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Play Dirty'?

• Play Dirty has 44% from critics and 44% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 5.9/10.

• On Letterboxd, Play Dirty is scored 2.7/5.0.