Released: 11th October 2019 (All regions)
Length: 122 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Vince Gilligan
Starring: Aaron Paul
Breaking Bad has enjoyed an immense following on Netflix and beyond; six years on from its brilliant conclusion, there was some room left over for expansion. The second and possibly final spin-off, El Camino (Named for the car used in a climatic getaway), picks up Jesse Pinkman right where we left him at the end of Breaking Bad’s final season with mostly satisfying results.
Pinkman has been through a lot, dodging danger, the law and the ever-encroaching pressures of the drug trade, but now, for the most part, he looks to make it on his own. Swapping back between past and present, we follow the young delinquent almost exclusively as he makes plans to get out of town and start a new life while also reminiscing over a few morsels back before things went downhill for the meth dealers. The former is a mixture of creeping tension, dark undertones and light comic relief from seasons past with the latter being more sentimental by comparison. It may take some time to recognise some of the film’s returning faces, but El Camino does a great job of getting you reinvested. On the other hand, the scenes in the present don’t leave as much of an impact. There are some tense sequences to be found, but collectively they fall short of the franchise’s pedigree; you don’t quite feel that Jesse is being hunted at every turn. Things still flow well enough with neither side outbalancing the other, but the sense of danger is somewhat lessened. Above all else though, El Camino provides a strong and definitive sense of closure, something that spin-offs can struggle with.
What many remember about Breaking Bad was its standout performances from everyone involved and the lead is on top form once again. He’s carrying a hefty load for the production, but Aaron Paul slides back into the role effortlessly; aside from some occasionally witty dialogue from Gilligan, he feels more serious this time, driven entirely by self-interest and his desire to escape Albuquerque. The journey is occasionally a reflective one, with Jesse winding his way around several old acquaintances, sometimes with violent results. These moments have potential to take a deep dive into his character, but the film is clearly more focused on presenting his escape. For example, when we first find our protagonist, he’s clearly suffering from some post-traumatic stress but appears to put it aside rather quickly. While these missed opportunities are a let-down, the same acting commitment carries to other familiar faces; without giving anything away, the guest appearances are short but sweet, perfectly matching their small-screen counterparts. Vince Gilligan’s writing is once again very strong, delivering the right balance of character and plot progression.
It’s a little lacking in the white-knuckled tension that made its predecessor so engaging but El Camino offers a worthy epilogue to the Breaking Bad timeline, one that pulls us back into Jesse Pinkman’s story with an authentic and committed focus. The show’s massive fanbase certainly won’t be left disappointed by it.
Comments