Here, Spenser is a former cop who spent a few quality years in the clink for assaulting a corrupt superior, something that tells us a couple of things: He’s a decent guy with principles and his continuing good health testifies to his fighting skills — by way of confirmation, we see him casually dispatch burly inmates who attacked him.

After his release, Spenser gets dragged into a conspiracy involving dirty policemen, machete-wielding gang members and plans to build a casino on the grounds of the aforementioned track.

The perfunctory plot matters less than the scenes depicting Spenser’s relationships with his old buddy Henry (Alan Arkin); his new buddy Hawk (Winston Duke); his former girlfriend Cissy (the comedian Iliza Shlesinger); and his dog, Pearl. Those moments are Berg and Wahlberg at their loosely funny best, clearly enjoying making room for the supporting cast to strut their stuff — Duke is especially winning as a laconic gentle giant working on his MMA moves. The prospect of spending more time with this crew is not a bad one.

Spenser Confidential

Rated R for violence, language throughout and sexual content. Running time: 1 hour 51 minutes.