Breaking Bad was, and still, is, one of the most seminal crime dramas to have been shown on TV in recent years. It didn’t outstay its welcome by stretching it out over endless seasons, never ran out of new ideas, nor did it end in an unsatisfying manner. 2013’s series finale, Felina, provided the very best ending a show like this could get with the iconic Walter ‘Heisenberg’ White (played effortlessly by Bryan Cranston) receiving a fitting end. In that finale, we also saw White’s meth-dealing partner-in-crime Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) getting rescued by him, bidding farewell to each other, and driving off in an El Camino to freedom after being imprisoned by Todd Alquist and his gang for six months. Fans have often wondered what happened to Pinkman following those events, and now, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie answers those questions.
Jesse Pinkman was a standout character in the original series, but he was also a man that suffered a lot and lost a lot along the way since starting working for White. If Jesse’s journey in the show was evolving from a boy into a man, then this film solidifies him as becoming that man. This sees Pinkman still being haunted by all the trauma that he went through, and this film explores him trying to overcome that and achieving the quiet, peaceful freedom he’s been longing for so long, earning redemption and finally stepping out of White’s shadow. This allows Aaron Paul to give the best performance of his career, delivering the emotionally raw and distraught state Pinkman’s at, which brilliantly contrasts with the dumb yet spiky punk the character originally started out being. We also see plenty of characters from the show returning for a cameo each, and it’s a testament to Vince Gilligan that each appearance doesn’t feel tacked on but earned, and ties in brilliantly to Jesse’s swansong story. As well as returning to write this film, Gilligan has also taken up directing duties once again and manages to maintain the tense, confined, and claustrophobic atmosphere of the story, perfectly reflecting the nerve-wracking situation Jesse finds himself in as the walls are slowly closing in around him.
The Blu-ray disc contains some solid special features, including an insightful audio commentary with Gilligan and Paul, as well as a mega commentary that involves various cast and crew members detailing their experiences with the film. There’s also a half hour documentary about the making of the film (cast and crew interviews are peppered throughout), some deleted and extended scenes, plus an amusing gag reel. When it comes to features, there’s plenty here for fans to enjoy and will likely sit nicely when placed next to their Breaking Bad boxsets.
Overall, while some may view this as unnecessary, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie is the fitting coda for a phenomenal five-season television show and gives Jesse Pinkman the ending he very much deserved. At two hours, the film runs exactly as long as it needs to and never feels like it is dragging or outstaying its welcome. Gilligan’s writing and directing is top-notch as ever, and Aaron Paul gives a career-defining performance. This film just further demonstrates why Breaking Bad, as well as its spin-off show Better Call Saul, is still cultural phenomenon to this day.
