El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) ***

I'm not sure that I needed to find out what happened to Jesse Pinkman after the conclusion of Breaking Bad (2008–2013). And honestly, there is nothing particularly revelatory about El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019). It feels more like two long episodes of the TV series than a film on its own right. But there's nothing wrong with that. Nothing felt out of place since series creator Vince Gilligan wrote and directed the movie himself. The production values are really high, as with the series.

Revisiting these characters was like slipping on a glove—no surprises, just a comfortable feeling. Aaron Paul is certainly excellent. And the film will always carry a certain level of noteworthiness due to it being the last performance by Robert Forster released during his lifetime (I found out about his passing as I was writing this review—R.I.P.). While I can't say that El Camino is necessary, neither does it feel like any kind of a betrayal or a letdown. It's just difficult for me not to compare the two when 2019 brought us another movie sequel to an equally stupendous show—Deadwood: The Movie and Deadwood (2004–2006), respectively—and that film really blew me away (my review here).

El Camino is satisfying enough and there are some memorable moments. I'm sure the next time I watch Breaking Bad the series all the way through, I'll probably revisit it. I'll be interested to see if I feel any differently then.

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