It was a Mark Wahlberg weekend for us. On Friday night, Sidney and I had the opportunity to enjoy a date night together. We ventured to downtown Spokane where we ate at P.F. Chang’s and then we went across the street to River Park Square where we visited the AMC Theater to watch “Flight Risk.” Wahlberg plays a bald-headed villain who pilots a plane with a U.S. marshal and captured fugitive on board with the hopes of leading them astray. Sid and I appreciated the rare chance to watch a move in the theater and were quite entertained by what transpired on the big screen.

Our tickets for “Flight Risk.”

On Saturday night, we watched “The Union” on Netflix. Wahlberg had a full head of hair in this one as he is recruited by his high school sweetheart (Halle Berry) into a covert organization to embark on an espionage mission. Let’s just say we didn’t gain much by watching it.

Even though the second Wahlberg movie of the weekend was a dud, it doesn’t mean that we won’t ever watch another film with him in it. My wife is a huge Marky Mark fan. In fact, her dad is too. Whenever those two get a chance to watch a Wahlberg movie together, you better believe they are going to cook up the popcorn and remain glued to the TV from start to finish.

I have grown to be a Mark Wahlberg fan, too. He is a versatile actor but also a faith-filled person. Wahlberg is a devout Catholic who has used his platform to evangelize and bring others closer to Christ. Talk about a role model!

When I think of Mark Wahlberg, three favorite movies come to mind…

We are Mark Wahlberg fans!

3. The Departed – Talk about a trip! This film has you guessing the whole way through and nothing beats the final 20 minutes when the cops and gangsters are both trying to figure out who infiltrated their respective organizations. Wahlberg didn’t need to carry the cast because he had Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Alec Baldwin helping him out.

2. Fr. Stu – This movie is a true story about a rough-around-the-edges guy who dabbled in boxing, acting, and plenty of booze before meeting a special girl. They started dating and her faith influenced Stu so much that he converted to Catholicism. After a near death motorcycle accident, Stu decides to end the relationship and begin the process of becoming a priest. Watching “Fr. Stu” was so powerful because you could tell Wahlberg was playing it with authenticity and reverence. One cool fact: My friend, Fr. Kevin Oiland, actually went to seminary with Fr. Stu.

1. Lone Survivor – Possibly my favorite war movie ever, Mark Wahlberg plays Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrel. The film had me on pins and needles the entire time and the scene where he thanks the local Afghan tribe for shielding him from the Taliban after his rescue gives me goosebumps. It is possibly the most memorable movie I have ever watched in a theater. After a stoic and respectful audience watched in silence from beginning to end, a thunderous ovation endued the moment the credits rolled.

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After that ode to Mark Wahlberg, I feel like Sidney and I need to find another movie of his to watch tonight. Any suggestions? Don’t Blink.