Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his TV debut with “Fubar” on Netflix
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former movie star turned governor of California, has now made his series debut with “Fubar” on Netflix. However, the idea is slim and is stretched over eight parts (and possibly more), making it feel fouled up in recognizable ways. “Fubar” is a father-daughter version of his 1994 James Cameron movie “True Lies.”
The Plot of “Fubar”
“Fubar” follows the story of Luke Brunner (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro). Both Brunners have been concealing secret lives, similar to “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” before being forced to team up by the CIA. Luke Brunner is on the verge of retirement when he discovers that his daughter had been recruited years earlier. Emma Brunner had been dating the nerdy and clueless Carter in her inner circle while keeping her father in the dark about her life as a super-spy for the CIA.
The series is executive produced by Nick Santora and Schwarzenegger, among others. Taking advantage of Schwarzenegger’s inherent likability and his gift for dropping sly one-liners while engaging in violent acts, the series tries to keep the audience engaged. Barbaro also plays her role well as an arresting super-spy, at least when she isn’t squabbling with her dad.
The Tired Plot of “Fubar”
However, there is a nagging familiarity to almost every beat of the show, which includes the jokey nature of the banter among members of the crack team. Streaming has become the logical stop for marquee movie stars once they reach a certain age. Examples include the Taylor Sheridan-produced dramas spawned by “Yellowstone,” which has attracted Sam Elliott, Harrison Ford, and Sylvester Stallone.
Notably, a CBS reboot of “True Lies” was just canceled. The combination of Schwarzenegger and similar material in the less ratings-pressurized confines of streaming should be more hospitable. With its cliffhanging episodes, this show gamely tries to pull viewers along. Still, the highlights primarily tend to come in its smaller moments, courtesy of Schwarzenegger and Barbaro, rather than the otherwise-generic plot.
Editorial and Advice
“Fubar” doesn’t take itself too seriously. However, if Schwarzenegger had to “be back,” to quote a certain relentless cyborg, it’s easy to wish the encore had come in something a bit more inspired than this. As a viewer, it is essential to be mindful of the overused plot, but it is equally important to support a movie star’s entry into the world of streaming.
Streaming platforms have provided an excellent opportunity for movie stars to continue to create content that is still accessible to a large audience while exploring new roles and testing new ideas. Perhaps “Fubar” can serve as a learning experience, leading to future projects with less outdated concepts and more experimentation to create fresh content.
<< photo by Markus Spiske >>
