Movie review: Burn Notice

Michael Westen is a very good spy. He has also received a burn notice which disavows his employment as a spy and strands him in Miami. Putting his special ops training to work, Michael and a few friends help those in impossible situations.

Jeffrey Donovan (Michael), Gabrielle Anwar (Fiona), Bruce Campbell (Sam), Coby Bell (Jesse), Paul Tei (Barry), Seth Peterson (Nate), Lauren Stamile (Agent Pearce), Jack Coleman (Strong), John McGinley (Card).

Burn Notice is seven seasons of explosions, bullets, deception, and manipulation. The series begins with the premise Michael is a spy who has been burned, leaving him stranded in Miami on threat of death if he leaves. With no job and no money, he turns to his friends for help and uses his spy skills to help those in desperate situations. Along the way there is some romance, good comedy, and plenty of action. Sadly, the series falls into a routine with each episode bringing a new problem situation that often plays to the long running and tired series plot line. The result is a strong start, good depth in the middle, then a slow descent into repetition leading to a necessary series conclusion.

Acting by Donovan was pretty good, even if he felt detached much of the time. Anwar was awesome delivering a nice mix of sexy alongside an obvious desire to shoot everyone. Campbell added an enjoyable comedy element to things and improved somewhat throughout the series. Bell was enjoyable, delivering a solid performance, as did the remainder of the cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are pretty good with decent use of natural scenery and good quality. Action scenes were intense with plenty of explosions, bullets, and violence. Dialogue was good with a nice mix of comedy, drama, and nice narrative explanations. Sound and soundtrack were okay.

Overall if you enjoy a good crime TV show or spy action & adventure check this one out.

With a lot of violence, some sexuality, blood, gore, and adult situations this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2013
Reviewed: 7.27.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Crime TV, Spy action & adventure, TV Action & Adventure, Crime Series

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