"Breaking Bad" is heavily regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time. With excellent writing, characters, acting, story, cinematography, setting, as well as elements of comedy, suspense, and drama all rolled into a masterpiece of a television program. It is my favourite show to this day. It not only launched multiple actors into stardom, but even spawned a spin-off series, "Better Call Saul". Although there were rumours prior to its reveal, the announcement that a film continuation of the series releasing on Netflix took the fanbase by storm, although some were worried of it was even needed to begin with. "El Camino" continues after the series finale, showing us what happened to protagonist, Jessie Pinkmann, after his liberation from Todd and the neo-Nazis. I won't go into depth with the story, mostly because there's not much of a story. Basically, Jessie escapes, needs to grab enough cash to start a new life, which ends up with a short conflict with these thieves. That's it. Half of the film are flashbacks that add some depth to Jessie or a small moment that never was depicted onscreen during the show. So, the story is really lacking, giving the impression that it's lazy or pointless. Despite the simplistic plot though, there are some standout scenes and moments in this 2-hour film, which includes some comedy and tension that the show is known for. The story also matches with the overall tone of the film, which is slow, somber and methodic. It reminds me more of the earlier seasons of the show, where it was more linear and straightforward rather than the insane rollercoaster that the later seasons become. I also think that the film was made to also make newcomers watch without much exposure from the show. Despite feeling misguided, I felt that the film was constructed to be like this to begin with.
Aaron Paul is once again electrifying as Jessie Pinkmann. His performance is both dramatic, yet hilarious. I love how in this film, you sort of see that Walter White has influenced him in some ways with his cunningness and risk-taking that alludes to scenes from the show. The shootout at the end of the film reminds me of how Walter would confront various drug lords and gangs with such confidence and attitude. I also congratulate how the almost 40-year old Paul plays a younger Jessie in certain flashbacks, which shows how much of his energy went towards this character. The rest of the cast are side characters from the show, ranging from Jessie's parents, Badger and Skinny Pete, Joe, Ed, as well as deceased characters in flashbacks such as Mike, Jane, and of course, Walter White. All of the actors return to play these roles and it's magical to see them almost magically fit back into the role despite them looking older than before. I must say though that Todd, played by Jesse Plemons, was the odd one out from the returning cast, since he has gain some weight since the series finale. This is a problem as his scene are part of the flashbacks, which he looks nothing like he does by the end of the show. Despite his new look, Todd is still a manipulative antagonist that makes you question if he has humanity towards Jessie or is just messing with his head. As for the antagonistic thieves, they are pretty forgettable. They are just an obstacle for Jessie to make the film as long as it is. Still, their inclusion makes for some great scenes, though it's mostly due to Paul's performance. The cast is solid as a whole, though that's mostly due to the established brilliance of actors and their characters.
Vince Gilligan returns to write and direct the film based off his original creation. Gilligan is one of the best writer-directors in the industry, which this film shows off to outstanding results. Although it's a bit jarring to see the film shot in widescreen and with a pristine look, it manages to gel well with the fantastic cinematography and lighting. Gilligan's camerawork is so refreshing to see again with the close-ups, scenic shots, and the creative shots such as the one when Jessie searches Todd's apartment. The city of Albuquerque has a dirty, desert locale that gels with lovely cityscapes and the bright daylight giving off light and life to this iconic location. The music by Dave Porter is somber and powerful, though I long for the excellent opening theme to be utilized in the film, which sadly doesn't occur. Gilligan's handiwork manages to bring out some memorable scenes, dialogue, and moments in this film that can be added to the massive library that is in the show. I love the flashback scene with Walter White, the shootout, the encounter with the thieves, the back and forth with Skinny Pete and Badger, and Ed calling the cops. These scenes are great, though the question is brought up that if these memorable moments needed an entire film to be centred around. You can't deny that Gilligan knocks it out of the park as always, proving that his talents are one-of-a-kind.
"El Camino" is a pretty good film with great writing, acting, directing, cinematography, and editing that captures the excellence of the show, with most of that being tied to the involvement of Paul and Gilligan. However, the story is pretty weak with a simple storyline and one-note villains that feel unnecessary and prove to be forgettable compared to the content of the show. With that said, did this film demanded to exist in the first place? I see this film as a cherry on a milkshake. For me, the cherry is fine, but I feel that it's not needed for me to enjoy my milkshake. However, if the restaurant insists that the cherry completes the milkshake as a whole, that's fine in my book. The film doesn't ruin the show at all. Sure, it feels pointless as the film states the obvious, but it's not like the film is changing the entire narrative of the show to begin with. Take it or leave it is the best I can describe this film to fans as a whole.
Verdict: 8/10. Great on its own merits, though struggles to be on the same level as the show. I recommend for fans or those that are just into the crime-drama genre as a whole.
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