Arnold Schwarzenegger long ago cemented his place on the Mount Rushmore of action comedy actors. The film star has blended action and comedy in his film catalog for the better part of the last 30 years. His latest project from Netflix, FUBAR, continues to showcase his ability to bring humor and action to audiences. Keep reading for my full thoughts on Season 1 of the new series. FUBAR was released on Netflix on May 25, with eight episodes in its first season.

FOCUS ON FAMILY

The series follows Schwarzenegger, as Luke Brunner, a top CIA spy who has kept his work a secret from his family for the last 40 years. On the verge of retirement, one last mission to rescue a fellow agent pulls him back in. But this final mission is no ordinary mission, as it turns out Brunner’s daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro), is the agent who needs to be rescued. This is a shock to both of them as neither had any idea the other worked for the CIA. What ensues is equal parts family dysfunction and father-daughter bonding, mixed in with a healthy dose of action and comedy as you’d expect.

FUBAR
Cr: Netflix
FUBAR
Cr: Netflix

If the premise of a family man working as a spy and keeping it a secret from his family sounds familiar, you’d be correct. With the added fact that FUBAR stars Schwarzenegger, the comparisons to his 1994 hit film, True Lies, are impossible to avoid. One could imagine with a name change from Brunner to Tasker, this series could have been a sequel to that film. The main difference in FUBAR is instead of the spy working out things with his wife, this time it is with his daughter.

This dynamic between Luke and Emma is a key focus of the series. It also provides some of the best moments, especially the moments when they are able to bond and form a deeper connection. Schwarzenegger effortlessly pulls off the role of Luke and the over-protective father. He is able to shift from frustrated, to proud, to worried, sometimes all in the same scene. Barbaro also excels as Emma. What starts off as anger towards her father begins to soften as she begins to understand the complexities of having a relationship and potentially a family while being a CIA operative. Thankfully Barbaro is able to capture all of those emotions throughout the season.

LOTS OF HITS & A FEW MISSES

There are a lot of high points in FUBAR. The blend of action and comedy is well done and engaging. As previously mentioned Schwarzenegger and Barbaro both bring great depth to their characters and their interactions were my favorite parts of the series. The globe-trotting adventure which serves as the backdrop that brings the Brunners together, is also engaging and fun. However, there are a few minor missteps in my opinion. The supporting cast and writing for them can be hit-or-miss. The biggest example of this is with the Brunners supporting crew. I will readily admit that comedy by its nature is highly subjective. For example, I find the “dad jokes” from Luke to provide plenty of chuckles, as all good dad jokes do. But, much of the attempted humor from the rest of the CIA support team feels too forced for me.

The jokes do occasionally land but too often fall flat and come across as trying too hard to be funny. Which is personally not my style, but it could be perfect for others. As I said, humor and comedy are in the eye of the beholder, so you may disagree with my opinion, and that’s totally fine. Circling back to the inevitable True Lies comparisons, simply put the supporting crew this time around is no Tom Arnold. Although as the season progressed, I noticed this less. Either due to changes in writing or perhaps just getting more familiar with the supporting characters. Also, I would be remiss not to mention Gabriel Luna (The Last of Us) as Boro, who brings a great level of unhinged intensity to his role as the primary antagonist. Though not seen on-screen a ton, the times he is are fantastic.

FUBAR OFFICIAL TRAILER

When a father and daughter discover they both secretly work for the CIA, an already dicey undercover mission turns into a dysfunctional family affair.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, FUBAR is an enjoyable viewing experience. The high points, Luke and Emma’s relationship, the trademark Schwarzenegger one-liners, and the engaging story far outweigh any complaints. FUBAR set out to showcase a journey of a father and daughter who grow their relationship, and on that, it certainly succeeds. It might be easy to assume FUBAR is a straightforward Arnold action-comedy, and there are plenty of aspects of that, but for all of those moments, there is just as much emotional depth and growth for the characters, which makes the show all that better. For fans of Schwarzenegger or just fun TV shows, I would recommend giving FUBAR a watch.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Sound off and tell us what you think! Will you be checking out FUBAR? Also, what is your favorite Schwarzenegger film? That Hashtag Show wants to hear from you.

You can tell us your thoughts by leaving a comment below. You can also find me on Twitter at TheIndianaSlone. Be sure to stay up to date on all your Pop Culture and Entertainment news by following us at ThatHashtagShow.com.

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