For diehard fans, and certainly for Aunt Patty and Aunt Selma, the idea of a youth-skewing “MacGyver” reboot seems like a bad idea. But let’s be real, the 1980s TV series starring Richard Dean Anderson and his glorious mullet was never a classic, but it did have its lo-fi charms. However, that sort of homespun appeal is out the window for the new remake on CBS.
Lucas Till (who you probably best know as Havok from the “X-Men” movies) takes over the titular lead role, armed with lots of quips and a level of derring-do that I don’t recall the original ever having. But of course, he’s open to improvising when the situation requires, such as stopping a plane with tinfoil somehow. But he mostly just looks like a young Jason Bourne, with the skills to boot, who rolls with a crew of good pals including Tim Riggins’ brother from “Friday Night Lights.” And the lean towards explosions and big set pieces is probably explained by the fact that James Wan (“Furious Seven“) is producing and directed the pilot.
All I know is, after watching this truly egregious promo for the “Lethal Weapon” show, maybe TV executives should have a hard think about just reviving various properties because they can.
“MacGyver” debuts on September 23rd.
