David Farnor | On 29, May 2023

“That’s it, and that’s all.” As far as catchphrases go, it’s hardly “I’ll be back”. That, in itself, is an indicator of the level of quality to expect from Fubar, Netflix’s action-comedy series. The show sees Arnold Schwarzenegger play a spy called Luke, who’s been a star CIA asset for decades – at the expense of his relationships with ex-wife Tally (Fabiana Udenio) and their unimpressed daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro). But just as he retires, hoping to win Tally back, an unexpected mission brings him back to the front line. And, on that mission, he’s shocked to discover another undercover operative in action: Emma.

If that sounds like several action movie cliches wrapped up into one, you’re not wrong – and creator Nick Santora shamelessly borrows from any back catalogue going, including Arnie’s, to dish up what is, on some level, a remix of True Lies. Also along for the ride are a bunch of token ragtag sidekicks, including the vaguely sexist Aldon (Travis Van Winkle) and knowingly rude Roo (Fortune Feimster), plus the charmingly wholesome Barry (Milan Carter).

All those reheated morsels of past meals come with similarly tired fragments of jokes told before, some of which are worryingly dated – including one honeypot scenario that plays about as uncomfortably as a key scene in James Cameron’s 1994 blockbuster – and others are disappointingly unmemorable, including Emma’s nerdy fiancé Carter (Jay Baruchel) and Tally’s new fella, the ultra-beige Donnie (Andy Buckley). The villain, meanwhile, is a generic separatist militant (Gabriel Luna) who has a father complex and a tricky father-son dynamic with Luke.

Fortunately, though, the central duo are a strong combo and when they’re together, things click. Fresh from Top Gun: Maverick, Monica Barbaro is great as an agent whose strengths lie up to her dad’s reputation, and possibly surpass them – except for when her determination to prove him wrong leads to her hotheaded undoing. Arnie, meanwhile, proves he’s still got it as the weary father who just wants to help and look after a young daughter who’s already outgrown his paternal care – and who’s need to be needed stops him listening to her smart instincts.

Forced to work alongside each other by both the CIA and a therapist (the wonderfully dry Scott Thompson), they’re a fun double-act that succeed the more they lean into Arnie’s natural talents as a comedian more than his ageing action chops. The result gives each action sequence a likeable heart, even though the outcome and plotting is familiar to the point of being predictable. Surprising? Rarely. Entertaining? Just enough. That’s it, and that’s all.

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