LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: What’s better than having one spy under a roof? Having two of them under that same roof. Netflix’s ‘FUBAR’ seems to echo that statement pretty well but the series goes a long way to ascertain the harmful effects rather than the benefits of having two spies under one roof. It’s worse if both of them seep this a secret and eventually learn about each other’s betrayal. Luke Brunner (Arnold Schwarzenegger) feels the same way when he finds out that his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro) is a CIA operative just like him. The two had been keeping their identities to themselves but Luke finds out, the confrontation between both of them is ugly.
However, it’s not as ugly and violent as 'Mr & Mrs Smith’ which seems to be the foundational ground for ‘FUBAR’ to thrive. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s 'Mr & Mrs Smith’ tells a story of a husband and wife living together, struggling to keep their marriage alive until they learn about their true identities. Both of them were assassins and were tasked to kill each other by their respective agencies. Even though ‘FUBAR’ doesn’t entertain this particular thought but it entertains the theme — ‘What will happen if two spies/assassins live under the same roof?’ Despite taking a longer medium to tell its story, ’FUBAR’ doesn’t do justice to the genre that ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ immortalized.
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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were the biggest movie stars on the planet back in 2005. Their every move was documented and read by people who just couldn’t get enough of them. Bringing them together as an estranged couple who are trained assassins living under the same roof was an explosion waiting to happen. The action sequences are still cited and their chemistry was off the charts. It’s unrepeatable.
‘FUBAR’ has taken a route of a father-daughter symbiosis to emphasize the troubles of two spies under the same roof. Except for Arnold who is in the twilight years of his career, no one commands the screen quite like Brad and Angelina. ‘Top Gun: Maverick’s’ breakout star shines as Arnold’s distraught daughter but is unable to carry the series for eight long episodes. ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ appealed to a larger set of audiences due to their stars but the script was laden with humor and buzzing action that ‘FUBAR’ couldn’t achieve. The series was a noble attempt to service all of Arnold’s fans and remind him that he’s still alive. ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ still lives rent-free in everyone’s minds.
Can ‘FUBAR’ become as iconic as ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’?
‘FUBAR’ is yet to be renewed for a second season by Netflix while a series based on the memorable spy comedy, ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ is in the works at Amazon. ‘FUBAR’ will have to take some big strides in its upcoming season to beat the fan base of ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ and make one for itself, so Arnold fans can defend their beloved star with all their might, just as ‘Brangelina’ fans do all the time.
