I’m weirdly excited for Mark Wahlberg’s next action comedy, but I doubt it’s going to help his current Rotten Tomato streak. Wahlberg has had a varied acting career, which includes acclaimed dramas like Boogie Nights or The Departed, but audiences still know him best for his action output. Mark Wahlberg action movies are (usually) a fun time, with some of his best offerings including Shooter, Four Brothers and 2 Guns with Denzel Washington. In recent years, I’ve noticed an interesting trend in his career though.

Following the failed franchise starter of Mile 22 in 2018, Wahlberg has largely focused on PG-13, family-friendly fare. This obviously extends to Instant Family and The Family Plan, but it even includes action projects like Infinite. The star always mixed up his filmography with lighter fare, but his shift away from R-rated offerings is notable. We’ll all be seeing Wahlberg back in R-rated mode soon enough, thanks to the upcoming Mel Gibson-directed Flight Plan and Shane Black thriller Play Dirty.

The Union Looks Like Another Fun Mark Wahlberg Action Comedy

Wahlberg’s latest is a fun union with Halle Berry

For the time being, Wahlberg is staying in the PG-13 lane with his upcoming action-comedy The Union. This casts him as a construction worker turned reluctant spy when his ex-girlfriend (Halle Berry) recruits him for a deep cover mission. I really dug the trailer for The Union, which shows off the great chemistry between Wahlberg and Berry, in addition to some well-staged action setpieces. This type of project is very much in Wahlberg’s toolbox; he gets to be charming and funny while showing off his action skills.

There’s nothing terribly fresh about The Union or its concept, and it will be leaning on its star power and action to draw viewers in. Tonally, it resembles 2 Guns the most, which was also an action-comedy two-hander that didn’t take itself seriously. I’m positive that The Union will become Netflix’s Number One film the week it debuts, but what’s also predictable is the inevitable division between critics and audiences when it comes to reviewing it.

The Union Probably Won’t Break Mark Wahlberg’s Rotten Tomatoes Streak

Wahlberg’s Rotten Tomatoes ratings haven’t been very “Fresh” recently

I’m not onboard with the notion a movie’s Rotten Tomato score is the final say on its quality. Still, there is no denying how important these ratings have become to both viewers and studios, and Mark Wahlberg’s Rotten Tomatoes streak makes for grim reading. Out of Wahlberg’s last 11 movies, only two hold “Fresh” ratings on the Tomatometer. Both 2018’s Instant Family and 2024’s Arthur the King scored “Fresh,” with the latter being one of Wahlberg’s best movies in a long time.

I hate to say it, but the star has been on a run of mediocre projects. Video game adaptation Uncharted was a solid hit, but more than earned its lukewarm 40% critics score, while Infinite wasted a great premise and received a mere 17% in return. The worst performing of the bunch was the dire Netflix comedy Me Time, which paired Wahlberg with Kevin Hart; the film received 7% on the Tomatometer.

I’ll be watching The Union the week it arrives based on that fun trailer, but unless it offers something surprising, it doesn’t feel like it will be breaking Wahlberg’s recent RT run. It’s just not the type of star project critics generally warm to, and while Wahlberg and Berry will probably receive nice notices, the film’s story and lack of innovation will be cited as issues.

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It Won’t Matter Much If The Union’s Reviews Aren’t Great

There is a flip side to Mark Wahlberg’s Tomatometer score

Maybe The Union will beat the odds and receive solid reviews, but one thing I can guarantee is it will be a success on Netflix when it lands. A big-budget action comedy with two genuine stars will make it a curiosity watch for subscribers seeking something fluffy but entertaining. I should also note that the audience scores for Wahlberg’s “Rotten” films are typically higher in every case.

Critics and viewers were totally divided on Uncharted, with the audience score being 90%. Meanwhile, The Family Plan got a 25% “Rotten” mark from critics, but a healthy 62% from viewers. Pretty much everyone agreed that Me Time is very skippable, with the audience score on that being only 32%. Opinions will vary on The Union too, though it only has the jump over the reasonably low bar of being an entertaining film to watch during the weekend it arrives.

Arthur the King’s breaking Wahlberg’s Rotten Tomatoes streak is an encouraging sign for the star, and an indicator he’s on the lookout for better material. The Union looks like his best action vehicle in some time too, with the role playing to most of his strengths.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

The Union (2024)

The Union is an upcoming film that explores the intersecting lives of multiple characters as they navigate complex relationships, personal struggles, and social issues.

Director

Julian Farino

Release Date

August 16, 2024

Studio(s)

Leverage Entertainment , Municipal Pictures , Closest to the Hole Productions

Writers

David Guggenheim , Joe Barton