Fubar Arnold Schwarzenegger Real People Real Fun

                   

                                  

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Netflix Series Is Mediocre in Very Familiar Ways The star and former governor of California headlines an eight-episode action comedy that feels like the spring's second attempt to remake 'True Lies.'

Schwarzenegger’s first starring role in a TV series. In FUBAR, now streaming, Schwarzenegger plays Luke Brunner, a globe-trotting CIA agent who’s set to retire after decades of service. But before Luke can call it a career, he has to deal with- and you won’t believe this- one last job that’s more than he bargained for. Said mission requires Luke to rescue an undercover agent whose identity has been compromised- much to his surprise, it’s his own daughter, Emma. From there, Luke and Emma must reckon with the secrets they’ve been keeping from one another while attempting to stop a terrorist from selling nuclear weapons to the highest bidder.

For one, Luke deals with the real consequences of living a double life. By the start of the series, his marriage has ended. Luke’s relationship with Emma isn’t any better. She blames him for the divorce because he was absent for much of their lives. Working as a secret agent may sound aspirational, but it comes at the expense of forming meaningful relationships- just as Luke’s job destroyed his marriage, Emma’s commitments in the field are already affecting things with her wholesome boyfriend, Carter  The extreme tension between father and daughter boils down to how much the characters have in common The things they hate in one another are reflections of what they don’t like about themselves. The prickly father-daughter dynamic also leads to some delightful gags- a scene in which the two bicker over adjusting Emma’s chair during a mission briefing has no right to be as funny as it is.

“FUBAR is, by far, the most surreal project of my career,” stated Nick Santora, who serves as showrunner and executive producer. “I grew up watching Arnold Schwarzenegger films -  I’d hit my dad up for a few bucks so I could race to the movies and see the biggest star in the world on the big screen -  so creating the first scripted television project for Arnold is unbelievably exciting for me.” That probably explains all the movie references this season.

Netflix gets to use Schwarzenegger’s action-movie credentials to bolster its own reputation within the genre, while the actor gets to headline the type of star-driven project that’s become increasingly rare on the big screen. After decades of headlining blockbusters, Schwarzenegger making the pivot to streaming could serve as a blueprint for other A-listers who’ve been crowded out of the theatrical landscape in favour of countless sequels, reboots, and remakes. Of course, Schwarzenegger’s career change hinges on the success of FUBAR and whether audiences are still craving the kind of high-octane high jinks that put him on the map in the first place.

As the title suggests, “Fubar” doesn’t take itself too seriously; still, 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.