3 out of 5

Directed by: Jeffrey Donovan

It’s odd that the “film” spin-off of Burn Notice should come across as significantly cheaper looking than any given episode, but I’m sure there are reasons – the location shooting; maybe it was an episode budget that had to stretch to a movie length and scope and cast; maybe it was actually purposeful to pitch this more as a B-flick add-on to the Burniverse. Whatever the reason, though, that end result is still somewhat offputting, and/or the m.o. wasn’t made clear: what could / should be an intriguing and fun exploration of retired Navy SEAL Sam Axe’s (Bruce Campbell) past, leading up to his role as an ex-agent and Michael Westen’s buddy in the show, ends up being a not unfun explanation of the Burn Notice-preceding event, but doesn’t present anything substantial enough to merit the focus, not even if we’re allowing that it’s different tone is purposeful – none of it feels committed enough.

Star Jeffrey Donovan’s direction has to be cited as part of that, unfortunately: perhaps as part of the budget limitations, there’s both a first-take vibe to most scenes and also a lack of oversight in the edit that makes this feel like a rough draft. Bruce will be alternately amazing in a dramatic sequence, then seem like he’s waiting for a cue in others; camp one-liners are rolled out almost like a requirement and not with any punch; the action survives intact, but it’s more clear how much we’re cutting around than the faster pace of the show often allows us to notice.

However, BN creator and Fall cowriter Matt Nix, and Campbell, clearly know this character, so that even when we’re struggling to determine how silly or serious this is – a balancing act, again, the show never has us much calling into question – Sam comes across as a legit and competent agent: the spirit of the series remains alive throughout, with nods to its MacGyver-like vibes as Sam voiceovers us through his appointment to being a terrorist-group watchdog in Colombia (an unchosen job, and outfitted in very non-camouflaging blue camos, post being caught doing the horizontal limbo with a superior’s wife), and then has to improvise escape plans and bombs when the local politics prove much more complex than assumed. The on-location shooting definitely helps here, grafting on atmosphere when the hurried tone doesn’t provide, and encourages the flick to treat its locals like humans instead of leaning into much fish-out-of-water humor, with some white-savior tropes being countered by Bruce actually speaking the language, and acting like a SEAL who’s traveled and not an American who makes too many assumptions just because there aren’t skyscrapers around. And there’s a quality supporting cast, also, with Pedro Pascal and Ilza Rosario bringing fun and some dimensionality to their roles, even if it’s not directly in the script.

Landing Sam Axe squarely in a ‘competent’ ranking. Burn Notice is an excellent show, though admittedly it’s a sum-of-its-parts affair. Still, it’d be nice if this particular part was a bit more impressive.