Broken City Review - 2 Stars

Mark Wahlberg plays an ex cop who leaves the force after pulling something a little shady touched on in the opening scene.  Years pass and big city mayor Russell Crowe hires Wahlberg, now a private eye, to tale Crowe’s wife.  Catherine Zeta Jones fits the role of adulterous wife nicely.  Shots get fired, cars get chased, bodies pile up and Wahlberg uncovers a murky real estate deal.  “Broken City” has a great cast but doesn’t give them much of a story.  Wahlberg does his best with a series of dead ends.  A subplot with Wahlberg’s girlfriend actually drew laughs (she gets her big acting break in a steamy movie which includes a sex scene that drives Mark off the wagon after years of staying sober.)  The fine actor Jeffrey Wright adds a little class but doesn’t do much more than hurrumph while Russell Crowe spends most of his screen time yelling and bullying.  Gee fellas, this could have been a contender.  Does it deliver what it promises?  No.  Is it entertaining?  hard to follow.  It is worth the price of admission?  Skip it.