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The Spenser character featured in several mystery novels by
Robert B. Parker, beginning in 1973. In
1985, Spenser and his friend/colleague/sidekick? Hawk made it to TV in the show
Spenser for Hire which had several TV movies. Robert Urich and Avery Brooks
played Spenser and Hawk. Before Brooks
headed off to run Deep Space Nine, he did have a Hawk spin-off show. Joe Mantegna
also played Spenser in a 1999 version.
In this version, Spenser is a former cop. He’s ‘former’
because while on the job with his partner from the Big Hit Bokeem Woodbine, he
was investigating a case that seemed to him to be swept under the rug. He went
to ask his captain why it was being ignored and happened to arrive just as his
captain had beaten his wife. Spenser lost control and beat the hell out of his
captain, ending up in prison for five years. Spenser gets out, heads to his friend and
boxing coach Henry’s place, and meets Henry’s new protégé Hawk. They are promptly disgruntled at being
roommates but grown into respecting each other if not being friends.
On the day Spenser was released, the captain he previously
assaulted ends up dead, along with another officer who was clearly framed for the
killing. Spenser, unable to let it go, pursues some leads and begins to unravel
the case that sent him to prison in the first place.
This movie is Mark Wahlberg’s fifth collaboration with
director Peter Berg after Lone Survivor, Patriot’s Day, Deepwater Horizon, and
Mile 22. Berg knows how to work with Wahlberg
and how to make him look good in a role, which is essentially not asking him to
stretch, but to stay comfortably in his box. There is nothing wrong with
staying in your box and doing that well.
The story is interesting, the action good, and this would make a great
starting point for a new Spenser series in my opinion – or perhaps, just a new
Spenser Netflix movie every six months or so.
Mark Wahlberg really only has one note, so here Spenser is a
very Mark Wahlberg-type of angry Bostonian who is driven to solve a crime once
it crosses his path. He skillfully goes from confused-happy to confused-angry
to confused-furious. If you are a fan of his, you’ll like him in this. I am not
a fan of his, but he’s fine here.Winston Duke is far more charismatic, and though he feels a
bit toned-down here, he’s still fascinating every time he’s on screen. The
movie makes great use of every one of his 77 inches, playing up his size and
intimidation. He and Wahlberg do make a
good duo and I am hoping to see more of them together.
Alan Arkin plays Henry and is in this to be grumpy, push the
boys in the right direction, coach a little boxing, and then be placed in
danger to confirm how serious the situation really is.
Iliza Shlesinger plays Cissy Davis, who seems to be Spenser’s
ex, or current, or maybe they were never actually together? In any case, she
runs a dog-grooming business and is in the movie to yell in a Boston accent and
provide help when needed.
The heavies in this range from Michael Gaston as the
villainous Captain Boylan to Post Malone (what? And why?) as Squeeb (sigh). They are garden variety bad cops and henchmen.
Bokeem Woodbine is entertaining as Spenser’s former partner,
Driscoll. He seems to be having a good
time here and I was happy to see him.
I do have to mention that once again the website DoesTheDogDie.com
saved me on this one. There are several
dogs in the movie and as soon as the first one showed up and I realized how
many folks were after Spenser, I headed over to the site to see if the dogs
were going to be okay. Yes, the dogs are all fine throughout the movie –
however – during one flashback, a woman who is getting intimidated by the bad
guys is threatened by having her cat killed and nailed to a door, which is
narrated – so why the hell was it shown? This is absolute fuckery on the part
of the movie-makers in my opinion. The voice-over literally explains what
happens and the actress does a fine job of reacting – there is no need to show any
cruelty to animals ever – but it is particularly unnecessary in this case because the movie states
what is happening. Be forewarned.
Overall, the rest of the movie was entertaining enough and
well-crafted. I hope we get more, with no animals in them. There are some funny moments in this one, but
I could actually use a bit more comedy bits. I prefer action-comedies to
straight action movies, and this is perfectly set up for a buddy-action-comedy
franchise.
5 out of 10, certainly entertaining enough for a Netflix evening.
Remember the Big Hit? Well, it’s also on Netflix so you can
watch that again.
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