It was with 1987’s hit action comedy Lethal Weapon that Shane Black introduced himself to Hollywood by writing its script.

He would write a further five scripts, including 1991’s The Last Boy Scout and 1993’s Last Action Hero, before he would make his directorial debut with 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

It’s been seven years since his last directing outing, 2018’s The Predator, and his return is most definitely classic Black, for better or worse.

In the middle of a bank heist is renowned thief Parker (Mark Wahlberg). But despite his meticulous planning, the unexpected happens, that sees a spanner well and truly thrown in the works that has his crew disbanded in a very permanent manner.

This leads to him working with Zen (Rosa Salazar), and getting another crew together, including his thespian friend Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), for an audacious heist that will make them all very rich, if they can pull it off. And it’s a very big if, with him having to avoid mob boss Lozini (Tony Shalhoub), who has already made it clear that Parker is not allowed back in NYC, which is just where this juicy new heist is to take place.

The simplest way to describe this film is as being Ocean’s Eleven on crack. It’s based on Donald E. Westlake’s book series Parker, written under his pen name of Richard Stark, with its lead protagonist made in the mould of Lee Marvin in Point Blank.

It certainly has all of Black’s trademarks in being deliciously violent with over the top action sequences. It’s tonally however where the film struggles, with it going through more gear changes than a Fast and Furious flick; one minute it’s fairly sombre with a number of bodies flying around the screen, the next there are flippant quips injected swiftly changing the mood dramatically.

And although Wahlberg does well, you quickly get the impression that Parker really needed someone a little more sophisticated and savvy, which is just outside of the action star’s wheelhouse.

It’s undeniably entertaining however, despite its flaws – or maybe even due to them – with its convoluted plot, ludicrous action scenes and humorous character interaction. So yes, classic Black indeed.