Spenser Confidential

You know the routine by now. It’s Sunday, I’m looking through the streaming services I take and can’t find anything approaching new that I don’t have to pay extra money for. Something offbeat. Something not lily white. Of course there wasn’t much to choose from, and I almost passed this one up but recognized the director as someone whose action movies I usually consider well made but I dislike for some reason. He does a lot of work with Mark Wahlberg (Instant Family, Shooter), who is a guy I don’t like much but sometimes his movies are fun. So I dragged out the popcorn popper I got for Christmas and settled into a formulaic but well made action film.

This one is from 2020, practically brand new for streaming, and has a standard plotline. Spenser is a Boston police officer who beat up his captain for reasons and landed in prison for five years. He’s not even quite out the door and he’s beaten up and stabbed, and this is only the first of several times that happens in the movie. Being the standard Wahlberg character, he gets in a few good licks himself, but he’s no all powerful action hero in this one. He intends to move to Arizona with his elderly dog Pearly and drive trucks, but then he finds out his beloved dog has been usurped by an unexpected new roommate. The two are not friends at first but they band together to root out some police corruption. It’s a buddy movie.

Generally I’m a not a huge fan of this kind of film because they tend to drip with testosterone and celebrate some unsavory male characteristics. Even worse, even when a female hero gets tossed in for fun, they are required by the genre to act like a guy. This one was just a little different because there is some serious acting talent ALL the way down the list, the action sequences are violent but not over the top – except for how many times Spenser loses. I began to feel sorry for the makeup artists that had to keep track of and reapply the bruises and stitching on his face every day. Best of all was the relationship between Spenser and his unexpected roommate Hawk (Winston Duke, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Us). Winston was also great paired with Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy and is one of those actors I look for and expect good work every time. Also in the cast is Iliza Shlessinger (stand up specials) as the girlfriend. I didn’t know she’s a comedienne, so a good surprise. Alan Arkin (Minions: The Rise of Gru, Get Shorty, Edward Scissorhands) was a Hollywood legend and was never anything less than great. Every single actor in the movie was very solid, and I give a lot of credit to the director Peter Berg, who does everything from writing to acting, producing and directing. He makes movies I may not like, but they’re always well made. (Mile 22 (disliked it, but well made), Deepwater Horizon (same), Battleship (big time same))

This doesn’t really look like a big movie, but a glance at the credits will show a ton of people worked on it. There are 55 people listed in the stunts alone. As I mentioned before, the makeup people were good, and the action sequences were gorgeous. One thing I enjoy about Berg is his inventiveness, making every fight a little different and often with a funny bit or two. My favorite one here is the fight with the dog. The cinematography is a little weird, with everything looking a little dark, and the color is kinda flat. If you like the best of teenage boy bangers like Mississippi Queen, Long Time (by Boston, of course since the movie is set there), and Feels Like the First Time, you will love the soundtrack.

The last scene of the movie promises a sequel, and it was supposed to come out a few years ago but it never appeared. Wahlberg seems to be in a cycle like that ( e.g., Mile 22), and if I was a bigger fan of his movies I would be really irritated.

I will mention the trigger warning here, because it’s a big one. If you do decide to watch this, do NOT look at the screen when it shows the protestor walking to her house. There is a dead pet involved.

I will recommend this film as a good representation of the buddy movie genre (not as good as The Heat, but that’s the best ever), with some strong points like good action, some humor, and a very good bromance. This movie won’t inspire or surprise you, but if you like this kind of film you will have a good time.

Trigger Warning: a gruesome pet death

Available on: Netflix

LINKS:

• Spenser Confidential – Official Website
• Spenser Confidential – IMDB
• Spenser Confidential – Wikipedia

CFR: In Addition

Oh. Kay. I feel really stupid. I don’t remember the gruesome dog death. OMG. I’m embarrassed.

Hubby Scott and I really enjoyed this movie and watched it several times. Then we teased each other quoting the line “Did they make you do butt stuff?” masterfully delivered by Iliza Schlesinger. In fact, I am laughing about it now.

I too adore Winston Duke and am a fan of Iliza Schlesinger. Their presence in the movie made it better for me.

I have good memories of watching this movie and laughing with my husband. So I would suggest watching and yes, hide your eyes at the dog death which I will now be sure to do if I watch it again.