“El Camino”: A Treat for “Breaking Bad” Fans That Falls Short as a Standalone Movie
From its opening moments, it is clear that “El Camino,” the Netflix movie written and directed by Vince Gilligan, will be a treat for diehard “Breaking Bad” fans. A feature film that acts as a continuation of the hit TV series, Camino makes sure to give every beloved character its proper due.
In the first scene, fan favorite Mike Ehrmantraut offers advice to Jesse in his grisled monotone, saying that if he had a chance to escape, he would travel to Alaska, or in his words “The last frontier.” This sets up the plot of “El Camino.”
Jesse must make it to Alaska at all costs, even if he must outrun cops, neo-nazis, and his past to make it there. As the movie continues, Gilligan plants easter eggs to remind viewers of epic scenes from the show, that will certainly add to the enjoyment of the movie. He also leans heavily into the western vibe that was a staple of the show, with the final scene proving to be a little bit over the top in that regard.
If anything, “El Camino” is a love letter to Jesse. The beloved character who was seemingly roped into the meth manufacturing underworld and all of the murder and betrayal that came with it. It ties up the loose ends that the show could not, and attempts to supply some sort of conclusion for his character.
But did those loose ends really need to be tied up? “Breaking Bad” offered one of the strongest show endings in recent memory. With so many storylines and characters, Gilligan and his crew somehow managed to give the critically acclaimed, five season show a satisfying ending.
This has proved over time to be a task easier said than done. Beloved shows like “The Sopranos” and “Dexter” each provided endings that outraged fans and critics alike. For this reason, it would seem wise for Gilligan to take this rare achievement and go home, in order to not risk undermining the strong conclusion of the series.
What “El Camino” does is neither undermine the ending of the show nor strengthen it. Gilligan is at the top of his game. The movie is fast paced, intense, and full of twists and turns, much like the “Breaking Bad” series was. Aaron Paul is great as Jesse once again, and does a great job demonstrating growth in the character. Jesse is clearly traumatized by what has happened to him, but he has also gained intelligence, as he must fend for himself after the death of his mentor/rival Walt. He shows that he has the ability and smarts to weasel his way out of any situation, and he does so without the viciousness of his former partner.
At its core, however, “El Camino” just feels like three additional “Breaking Bad” episodes. Does Jesse get a satisfying conclusion? Yes, but he also got one at the end of the series. Did we learn anything new about the characters? No, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t great to see them again. Viewers who have not watched the show will struggle with many of the references, but will still be won over by the strong writing, acting, and visuals, as well as the signature “Breaking Bad” humor that can puncture even the most tense situations (Jesse’s adventure with psychopath Todd is uncomfortably hilarious).
While it could be contributed to outsized expectations, or maybe just the overall strength of the show, it doesn’t feel like “El Camino” does anything bigger or better than the television series. With that being said, there are almost no dull moments during the entire two hour run time, and the addition of a movie does nothing to diminish what many consider to be the greatest television series of all time.