'The Beast' review

It's impossible to evaluate The Beast without thinking of the real-life drama surrounding its star, Patrick Swayze.

Despite a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer a year ago, Swayze came to Chicago in 2008 to film a full season of this new A&E series (which premieres at 10 p.m. ET Thursday) about Charles Barker, an undercover FBI agent, and his young protege, Ellis Dove (Travis Fimmel). If Swayze's energy ever flagged on the set, it doesn't show in the first two episodes of the series, in which Swayze attacks the role of Barker with admirable vigor.

Though the actor's face looks gaunt -- a byproduct of his chemotherapy treatments -- that works for his character, who is supposed to be the grizzled veteran of a many undercover encounters with various Chicago bad guys. Infiltrating the worlds of murderers and criminals would put a few worry lines on anyone's face.

Swayze's can-do, take charge attitude toward his illness, and toward his new TV gig, inevitably makes you root for the guy. It's somewhat disappointing, then, that The Beast is an entirely average action-adventure hour, one that recalls the macho cop shows of the '70s and '80s.

There are implications that there is more to Barker and his tangled past than meets the eye, but too often the show's more intriguing elements are undercut by a cliche-filled script. If The Beast's resemblance to an old-school cop show is a plus in your book, then by all means tune in. Just know that you're best off checking your brain at the door. The Beast isn't exactly a slave to believability or originality.

It must be stipulated, however, that The Beast makes Chicago look good. The show's producers seem to be looking further afield than the same few locations so many TV shows and films use and re-use. (If I never see Wrigley Field or a smoky Chicago blues club onscreen again, I'll be thrilled; those are among the most overused "Hey, we're filming in Chicago!" locations ever.)

The Beast, even when filming on Chicago's lakefront, makes that recognizable location work in its favor. How many other Hollywood productions would shoot a long, dialogue-heavy scene on the lakefront -- in the dead of winter? The look of the show is distinctive, even if the words coming out of the characters mouths' often are not.

Though Swayze's performance is almost reason enough to tune in -- if you don't mind the show's more derivative elements -- the actor's co-star, Fimmel, is often the least interesting thing about The Beast.

When Barker is busting Dove's chops or otherwise playing head games with his young partner, the scenes often pop and crackle, mainly due to Swayze's blunt, driven energy. Scenes of Fimmel on his own are another story; this former model and star of The WB's Tarzan seems to be under the impression that smirking is a form of acting. A romantic subplot could not be more predictable or trite.

A few scenes that Fimmel shares with cast member Larry Gilliard Jr. (who played D'Angelo Barksdale on The Wire) showcase Gilliard's charisma and skill, while reinforcing the idea that perhaps Fimmel just isn't quite up to the task of helping Swayze carry The Beast. Giving Gilliard the role of Dove would have made up for a lot of the show's shortcomings.

The best part of The Beast may be the scenes between Barker and his FBI handler, Conrad (Kevin J. O'Connor); these two men have an easy rapport, and O'Connor skillfully gives his character a sad-eyed gravitas. George Dzundza also provides able support in a guest role in the show's second episode, but like the first episode, it has more than its share of plausibility problems.
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Reviewed by Maureen Ryan, Chicago Tribune. More posts from Maureen are at The Watcher.

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