FUBAR has landed on Netflix, and honestly, it’s not that bad. That’s not to say the spy thriller starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro is perfect. Far from it. It leans too heavily on nerd stereotypes where the ‘jocks’ look down on the nerd for daring to have passions besides kicking ass. And it is disappointing AF that Gabriel Luna, a Latino, is playing the “drug lord/revolutionary from South America” while battling yellow filters because exotic?
Look, I know I’m not selling FUBAR pretty well right now. But you have to know the bad so you can appreciate the good. After all, no show is perfect. Personally, I love seeing Schwarzenegger back on my screen. He was part of my childhood. And never because solely because of his action movies. I’m more of a Kindergarten Cop and Jingle All the Way kind of girl honestly. He knows how to play his part well and challenges Barbaro while meeting her toe-to-toe.
There’s also the fact that FUBAR is aware of how cheesy it is. And instead of leaning away from that, they lean into this aged agent finding out his daughter is also part of the CIA. They do the cheesy thing, they say the line, and save the day. It’s not on Fast & Furious cheese levels but it does have similarities when it comes to family and the importance of the family you choose. So let’s break down the five reasons you should watch FUBAR.
1. Love seeing the return of Arnold.
Schwarzenegger throws it down in this show. From comedy to action, he is your guy. Even better, he’s overbearing as a dad. A pain in the ass. And that makes watching him grow and trust his daughter even better.
2. Not what you expect from the very start.
While this show leans on the cheese, it’s not what you expect. And luring you into that false sense of security makes it refreshing when this show goes off the rails. That’s especially true when we get to know his daughter. Because she’s just as messy as the rest of them.
3. Family feels at the heart of it all.
The father/daughter duo of this show have HUGE problems. She never knew he was a spy and thought he was an absent dad. And he doesn’t want her anywhere near the CIA. And they’re so hard-headed that they don’t understand they are the same people.
4. Badass daughter who is just like her dad.
Schwarzenegger is the kind of star that would overshadow anyone and everyone. But Barbaro holds her own, fights dirty, and shows that she is just as tough as her TV dad. What we end up with is a complicated character who isn’t picture-perfect. And for women, that’s always refreshing and real.
5. It’s cheesy and funny.
At first glance, Schwarzenegger might not look like a comedian. But dear Lord, he delivers his lines in a way that has you cackling. And it’s amazing how FUBAR ends up throwing little lines in there that are throwbacks to his actual career. Case in point the video below is a throwback to the movie Schwarzenegger did with Danny DeVito, Twins. Could be Junior too.
FUBAR is now available on Netflix.
