Nerds That Geek Movie Review – ‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

To call Breaking Bad a phenomenon would be a gross understatement. Because this series, and everything that’s comes out of its iconic existence has gone beyond the power of that word, if anything it has become part of the outright fabric of our daily lives since people continue to re-watch and pour over Walter White’s harrowing story, or they indulge in the time before Heisenberg by way of Better Call Saul. And really, there’s a solid reason as to why this story/universe has in essence become an outright obsession for television enthusiasts out there everywhere.
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Because when all is said and done, Walter White’s journey, is nothing more than a grand American tragedy, one that feels as though it is ripped from the headlines of everyday life since we’ve all seen and heard news stories about good people who have turned to a life of crime and that kind of tragedy fascinates us. We simply have to know why someone who has a normal and peaceful life would choose to turn their back on the law and all that is good in the world and watching Walter and his friends transform into ‘bad’ people helps to satiate that curiosity. But what is truly impressive about this saga, is how it continues to captivate us years after it has come to an end.

In fact, I thought the series finale of Breaking Bad had done everything right when it comes to wrapping up the story, but I am in the minority when it comes to that particular line of thinking. For so many felt and believed that Walter might have survived that all-out assault on Jack’s men, and of course, everyone was left captivated and curious over Jesse’s fate since his drive into the night left us with more questions than answers. Which is why it should come as no surprise that Vince Gilligan took the time to put together a sequel/epilogue to the series, so that fans could finally have those all-important questions answered and well, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, is not only successful in that endeavor, it’s a phenomenal film through and through. 

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Because at its core, this is a gritty crime film, one designed to get our hearts pounding and it accomplishes that no problem, thanks in large part to the fact that we spend this entire ride on the run with Jesse Pinkman. And I really appreciated how this story offers no sense of safety for a young man who once had the world at his fingertips, and also how well this tale plunges us back into the seedy underbelly of Albuquerque that Walt and Jesse once owned, and that noir-ish feel to this story makes it an engaging and powerful ride for certain, one that also takes the time to truly provide the fans with a genuinely solid ending to the Heisenberg saga.
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For this one answers every burning question you have when it comes Walter’s fate and what came next after the dust had settled from that powerhouse finale, and I have to be honest, it was just a majestic delight to return to this universe and properly say goodbye to some of the characters that didn’t quite receive the closure we wanted them to. But what matters the most, is that in many ways Jesse’s harrowing journey in this tale provides the saga with its only happy ending to date, and that’s just stunning when all is said and done. For a story about a teacher turned drug dealer, and the student he dragged into this mess should feature zero positivity, but this movie pulls it off in the most appropriate and satisfying way imaginable.

If anything, this really is a movie designed for the fans of this iconic saga and honesty, there’s nothing wrong with that. Because returning to the world of Breaking Bad in 2019 isn’t a bad thing in the slightest, since the fanbase has only grown since the series finale, meaning that you will be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with the series or how it ends and I tip my cap to Vince and Aaron Paul for putting together a satisfying conclusion to this story. One that truly gives the audience everything it could want and more and now that this particular chapter of the story has come to its close, we can turn our attention back to Jimmy McGill’s journey, for one last fix of a saga that captivates us in ways we never thought possible.

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