- THE FALL GUY
- Starring: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt
- Directed by: David Leitch
- Rated: PG 13
- Running time: 2 hrs 6 mins
- Universal
The 1980s were full of some fun and amazing television shows. “The A-team,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Police Squad.” Not only were these some of the most entertaining shows around, they also went on to find life as full length films. This week another show makes the jump to the big screen. Meet “The Fall Guy.”
It’s just another day on the set for Colt Seavers (Gosling). As the stunt double for action star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), he’s up for everything. Literally. When he’s not jumping cars or running through fire, he’s crushing on cameraperson Jody (Blunt), who one day dreams of being a director. As the day’s filming comes to an end Colt is asked to repeat a stunt. No problem, right?
Directed by former stunt man Leitch, who also directed the frantic “Bullet Train,” “The Fall Guy” is almost a movie inside a movie. Lured back into the business to help Jody, Colt finds himself beaten and battered both on screen and off as he does his best to keep both the film, and himself, alive.
When you go see a movie called “The Fall Guy” you expect to see action. And director Leitch delivers it with both barrels. Stuntmen have never gotten their due. Early in the film someone remarks “can you even name a stuntman?” Off the top of my head: Yakima Canutt, Dar Robinson, Ted Grossman and Jean Coulter. That’s four. You may not know their names but you certainly know their work. And the sadly nameless stuntmen in this film do their legacy justice. This is a film that should advertise “we’ll sell you a seat but you’ll just need the edge!”
In between the action is a fun rekindled romance between Colt and Jody, as well as some humorous moments with a dizzy producer (Hannah Waddingham), who’s much craftier then she lets on. The film is well cast with Gosling as likable as ever. Blunt is excellent as the tough on the outside/soft on the inside Jody while Taylor-Johnson plays the vapid leading man well.
Action packed and full of fun, “The Fall Guy” joins “Hooper” and “The Stunt Man” as a film that highlights the unsung heroes of the cinema.
On a scale of zero to five, “The Fall Guy” receives ★★★★
