Whether you like Mark Wahlberg (aka, Marky Mark) or not, you’ll appreciate the relentless work ethic this actor and entrepreneur displays in this HBO documentary series. In six half-hour segments, we watch Wahlberg trying to get the businesses he’s invested in to become successful. F45 is a workout company with a number of gyms for people who want to be physically fit. Wahlberg not only shows his rigorous workout routine, he makes commercials for F45.
Municipal is a start-up clothing company that Wahlberg thinks has potential to appeal to an audience who want comfortable clothing with basic style. Wahlberg is also interested in investing in Green Zebra, a healthy food chain of convenience stores. And, of course, there’s Wahlburgers, the restaurant chain run by Wahlberg’s brother, Bob. And all this activity is filmed by Wahlberg’s production company, Unrealistic Ideas.
All of these businesses come crashing down when the Coronavirus Pandemic hits. Wahlberg’s relentless work ethic can’t overcome the effects of the virus as the gyms close, his movie is put on hold, the clothing company’s rollout is delayed, and Green Zebra starts shutting down stores. If I was still teaching Business at the College, I’d show this series to my students. Hard decisions are made, people lose their jobs, tons of money are lost. I hope there’s a Season Two of Wahl Street in the works. GRADE: A
Not much of a fan. He can be good when cast well. Usually as a working class Bostonian. The only thing I know about any of the businesses is that the hamburgers are way over priced and not that great. Never heard of any of the others.
Steve, watching Mark Wahlberg and his business partners start to realize the impacts of the Pandemic on their lives is worth a look. Trying to cope with a devastating plague makes for much more drama than any of Wahlberg’s movies.
For me, Wahlberg is one of those actors (and there are lots of them) whose presence in a movie doesn’t affect me one way or the other. He’s OK, but I’d never see something just because he was in it. His burger chain apparently hasn’t reached my area, at least I’ve never seen one. So given my near total lack of interest in business matters I wouldn’t have any interest in this.
Michael, the friendships among Wahlberg and his partners amid a Pandemic makes for compelling scenes as their businesses crater.
Don’t have access to HBO Max. No interest in Marky Mark as a rule, but the business aspect does sound interesting and very relevant now. We’ve seen Wahlburgers in Vegas on the Strip. But we don’t eat at celebrity burger places (didn’t eat at Guy Fieri’s place either). There are none in New York and the only one in Florida is in Key West.
Jeff, you would be enthralled by WAHL STREET as what started out as a documentary celebrating Mark Wahlberg’s business successes turns into a tale of closings and failures. Very stark but I’m hoping for a Season Two.
We have the burger place a mile away. Not the kind of place I would seek out even if there was no pandemic. But it does sound like an interesting series.
Patti, when the Pandemic hits, you start to see panic set in as Wahlberg and his business partners realize they’re in deep trouble. What started out as a publicity documentary turns into a case study of disaster. I found it compelling.
Anyone who billed himself as Marky Mark has to go a long way to enlist my sympathy!
Bob, Mark Wahlberg evolved after his Marky Mark phase. Now, he’s a family guy and entrepreneur.
Back in 2007, Wahlberg appeared as Stephen Hunter’s sniper character Bob Lee Swagger in the movie Shooter — which wasn’t too bad until the end, when the original ending which sort of made sense was reshot by the studio into something that made no sense whatsoever. Anyway, the reason I’m bringing it up here is because of the brilliant line in a review in either the Baltimore or Washington paper which called it “Marky Marksman.”
Jeff, I read Stephen Hunter’s POINT OF IMPACT which became the movie SHOOTER. So I was surprised when the movie conclusion was completely different from the book. And by “different” I mean nonsensical. I like that snarky “Marky Marksman” remark.
More depressing. You’ve been finding depressing stuff a lot lately, it seems to be everywhere these days. I don’t know this guy, and from what you say, don’t think I care to. There are hundreds of thousands of people whom the pandemic hurt.
Rick, WAHL STREET shows how the Pandemic affected small businesses and what the owners tried to do to cope with it. I have more cheery stuff scheduled for the rest of the week.
Look forward to it.
Rick, and I have some silly stuff planned for next week.
Uh oh.