I think at this point it is a well-known fact that Mark Wahlberg always plays the exact same character. Scan through his movie credits and you will notice that no part stands alone. Even as a psychopathic/stalker boyfriend in Fear, he was still that mix of Boston-bred bad boy and endearing sweetheart. Wahlberg is not known for playing Academy Award-worthy roles, and this January’s Contraband is no different. Don’t get me wrong when he’s on the screen, I can’t get enough of the artist formally known as Marky Mark— but that is based on pure aesthetics. Still I have to say, where the movie lacks in original acting and cheesy one-liners, it makes up for it with 110 minutes of good old criminal fun.

Directed by Icelandic actor-turned-director Baltasar Kormakur, the movie is a remake of his home country’s 2008 thriller Reykjavik-Rotterdam. Contraband tells the story of Chris Farraday (Wahlberg), who learns that his brother-in-law Andy (played by the seemingly always timid Caleb Jones) has gotten himself into a seismic pickle: while trying to smuggle a duffle bag full of drugs into the country via cargo ship, he is stopped by customs officials and is forced to throw the bag overboard. The real problem presents itself when Andy has to explain to recently-released jailbird Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi with a disturbingly bad Southern twang) that he’s tossed his shipment. Briggs offers him one option—come up with the money, or he’ll be no-more— accompanied by a severe beating for effect. As it turns out, Farraday is a reformed smuggler who got out just in time to avoid the heat, and he is willing to re-enter the life one more time to save his wife’s baby bro. With the help of his best friend, and old accomplice, Sebastian Abney (Ben Foster), Farraday is able to assemble a crew and devise a plan. Instead of trying to sneak in drugs, he will use a connection in Panama to bring in counterfeit money. But alas, smuggling the fake bills doesn’t come without its fair share of problems. While on the ship, he learns that Briggs is making threats to his wife (Kate Beckinsale) and two little boys, not to mention the twists and turns he encounters when he finally reaches Panama to make the exchange.While slightly convoluted, the plot twists made for a very fun ride.

There were several humorous quips efficiently delivered by Wahlberg and supporting cast members. And from the coast of Algiers, New Orleans to the streets of Panama, Kormakur and cinematographer Barry Ackroyd did an excellent job of creating a dark and gritty setting for the story to unfold. So maybe Mark Wahlberg can’t really deliver the goods (pun intended) in terms of phenomenal acting, but Contraband was an energy-packed, enjoyable way to start off the year.