Directed by Peter Berg
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, Alan Arkin
Rated R for violence, language throughout and sexual content
Spenser Confidential is a an action comedy film directed by Peter Berg. The film centers around Spenser (played by Mark Wahlberg), a formerly released convict who tries to solve the murder of a police officer who is accused of murdering Spenser’s former boss, Captain Boylan (played by Michael Gatson). Spenser is joined by his new roommate, Hawk (played by Winston Duke), and his friend Henry (played by Alan Arkin) as they investigate the most corrupt cops in Boston.
The film is the fifth collaboration between director Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg. The two work great off each other as Wahlberg seems comfortable as the role of Spenser. With all the gripes with the film, Wahlberg does a great job with the type of role that Wahlberg seems to enjoy. In short, this is the type of role Wahlberg always plays. The film also stars Winston Duke, who somehow is not given much to do, despite Duke being in the film for a large portion of it. The only memorable thing Duke does in the film is box. But there is more to the character to that, but the film doesn’t serve anything memorable about him. Also in the film is Iliza Shlesinger, who plays a stereotypical Boston woman who doesn’t do anything in the film at all. Her role could have been cut and the film could not have changed at all.
The main issue with the film is that there is so much filler that doesn’t make a difference in the film and only drags it down. A key example is in a scene where two characters have sexual intercourse in a restaurant restroom. The scene was supposed to be funny but it only comes off a unnecessary as it brings a halt to the film. A few minutes later, a character is chasing a car but is only mauled by a German Shepard. The bit is funny at first, but then goes on for a couple minutes. It soon gets unfunny and serves no purpose at all. It’s moments like these that make it so frustrating to view the film as we only want to continue forward with the plot, not stop the story for a humorous bit.
In addition to the unnecessary scenes, the film almost plays like an entire cliche. Down to a character chewing on a toothpick to a Boston woman being loud and brash. The film does call out some of the cliches, which I enjoyed, but the moment the third act came, it was evident where the film was going. It’s almost like the film had a checklist it has to follow to the tea. The film also does a poor job serving a good mystery. The mystery of what happened is solved in the first act. Either this was intentional or the filmmakers took the audience as unintelligent and knew they could not solve the crime themselves. Either way, it felt like a waste of time as the audience and even the main character himself knew who did the crime.
I am of the opinion that some audience members will enjoy Spenser Confidential. Mark Walhberg is fun in the film as he seems natural in the role of Spenser. But on the other hand, the film is filled with cliches that are in unnecessary scenes that go nowhere. If you view the film as a mindless action film that is bound to have issues, then by all means view the film and have some fun with it. But in the end, the problems of the film can make it difficult to fully enjoy Spenser Confidential.
2/4
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