For their fifth film together, director Peter Berg and star Mark Wahlberg shed light on Netflix. You could easily imagine a future in which they alternate between theatrical outings like “Deepwater Horizon” and “Patriots Day”, and suites with the breeze “Spenser Confidential”.
Indeed, this action comedy disposable at the feet of the fleet looks like the first episode of a franchise, with a story behind, an introduction of the acolytes and an ending that could just as well shout “More to come!”
The film almost does not resemble Ace Atkins novel “Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland” (a continuation of the Spenser series created by Parker in 1973) that’s his nominal inspiration, apart from the location of Boston, the names of the main characters and something on an abandoned dog racing circuit.
Here, Spenser is a former cop who spent a few years in the clique for assaulting a corrupt superior, something that tells us a couple of things: he is a decent guy with principles and his continued good health testifies to his skills in combat – passing confirmation, we see him casually sending strong detainees who attacked him.
After his release, Spenser is drawn into a plot involving dirty police, gang members armed with machetes, and plans to build a casino on the grounds of the aforementioned runway.
The superficial plot matters less than the scenes depicting Spenser’s relationships with his old friend Henry (Alan Arkin); her new boyfriend Hawk (Winston Duke); his former girlfriend Cissy (actress Iliza Shlesinger); and her dog, Pearl. These moments are Berg and Wahlberg at their best, without having too much fun, clearly enjoying making room for the supporting cast to strut around – Duke is particularly winning as the sweet laconic giant working on his MMA moves. The prospect of spending more time with this crew is not bad.
Spenser Confidential
Classified R for violence, language throughout and sexual content. Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes.