This is also not in character for the Sam presented at the beginning of Burn Notice, who informed on Michael to the feds. Perhaps that Sam is a bit defeated because of the events explained by this movie, and so he isn't as courageous as he is shown to be later on. That's the easiest explanation, as the Sam in this special is more like the Sam shown in the fourth season of Burn Notice, well after he has committed to a team that is always helping people.
Sam and the others make it to the base, but they are badly outnumbered. Sam must stall by talking, something he has been shown time and again to be very good at. He does so long enough for help to arrive, but his previous actions are enough to earn him the threat of court martial. Only his resourcefulness saves him, having arranged for Beatriz to have blackmail material that Sam uses to negotiate himself an honorable discharge.
The story started out slow and not very well written, but by the end, Sam has morphed into a more familiar figure, as he has come to be known to fans. This special is far from fantastic, but it does give a little bit of unknown back story on a popular character, and keeps the tone (and often, the music) of the series, so fans will probably enjoy it.
The capable, but not stellar, supporting cast includes RonReaco Lee (The Good Guys) as the clinic doctor, and Kiele Sanchez (Lost, The Glades) as the doctor's assistant, Amanda. Sam has a brief romantic notion to be with Amanda, but a couple of kisses is all the further the special takes it. While it is unlikely Sam would have a permanent love interest in such a brief movie, his interaction with Amanda is so tame that it proves unneeded and feels out of place with the rest of the show.
Burn Notice, back to its present day story line, will return to USA this summer.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments
1 - Diane
I enjoy Burn Notice but this one about Sam was really bad. Who ever did the writing for this one should go back to the drawing board.. This was the worst script ever and the acting wasnt that good either.
2 - Chris
I couldn't agree more. Bruce Campbell has saved a lot of movies that should have been bad but he made awesome. Nothing he could do here. Nothing in the script made sense, the emotions were off, not even close on the military correctness, awful.
3 - WB
I actually enjoyed this, thought it was a good old fashioned action / adventure / comedy movie. I agree with the writer, that the initial bumbling Sam Axe was a bit of a bad start, but the show was entertaining. We're off to a normal start, typical Burn Notice protagonist ends up in a bit of a fix, protagonist gets out of fix with a little bit of help from friends, and we have a positive conclusion.
Helps tide me over until the next season!
4 - AM
Went looking for reviews this morning, wondering if I was the only one who was so disappointed with this piece. Have to compliment the production itself, locations, scenes, directing, etc. as being respectable, but it was in spite of what they had to work with. It was the story itself that was so lame. Thinking back to the also lame Good Guys, Bad Guys, one has to steer straight toward Matt Nix as the culprit here. Looking more like a one hit wonder. Keep trying, Matt, but just using the same BN chemistry in different "venues," isn't working. You're obviously a brilliant guy. Let your imagination take you some place else.
5 - Ed
I, too, thought this prequel was awful. Sam Axe never really seemed like Sam Axe for most of it, and the rest of the acting just wasn't believable. I hope this isn't a sign of what's to come on BN season 5!
6 - Bill
This movie desperately needed a military advisor - it was embarrassing to this fan.
For starters, the ill-fitting uniforms were incorrect - a full US Navy commander rates 'scrambled eggs' - and without stars on the collar of the flag-ranked 'tribunal conductor' he wouldn't rate a salute - which any sailor wouldn't do uncovered (indoors - without a hat) anyway! And as I said, that's just for starters...!