From director David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2) comes a modern adaptation of the popular TV series from the early 1980s titled The Fall Guy. Much like the series, Leitch’s movie follows the misadventures of Hollywood stunt performer Colt Seavers. Before his career as a director, Leitch worked as a stuntman. He knows about the rough and tumble world of movie/television performers who fall, get set on fire crash cars, etc., for entertainment. With a solid screenplay by Drew Pearce and irresistible performances by Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, the movie version of The Fall Guy deserves to be a huge hit.
Gosling stars as the titular Fall Guy, Colt Seavers. At the film’s start, Colt makes a name for himself in the stunt business and gets premium gigs doubling for Hollywood superstar Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). However, his career gets dramatically derailed when a stunt in one of Ryder’s movies goes painfully wrong. Though Colt eventually recovers, he must also recover from the pain of depression and heartbreak.
Prior to his accident, Seavers and camera operator Jody Moreno (Blunt) share an on-and-off fling between films, adding a layer of emotional complexity to their relationship. His accident not only stalls his career, but also makes Colt retreat from any further relationship with Jody, leaving her heartbroken. However, fate has other plans, and Colt gets a golden opportunity to both restart his career and rekindle his romance when Seavers gets hired to work again as Tom Ryder’s double in Jody’s directorial debut Metal Storm. Matters get further complicated, however, when the star, Ryder, goes missing. Desperate to help Jody, Colt further investigates the whereabouts of the missing actor, leading to a thrilling climax.
This movie is an absolute thrill ride. It is pure popcorn cinema that is kickstarting the summer movie season. The film delivers loads of laughs, charming romance, fantastic action, and incredible stunts, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The movie does run longer than necessary, with one particular comedic sequence taking up too much time. However, the rest of the film is a non-stop rollercoaster ride, and all the audience can do is hang on and enjoy the exhilarating experience.
Gosling, who almost everybody knows by now, is a comedic gem. He has done physical comedy very well in past roles, making him a natural for the role of Colt Seavers. He and Emily Blunt share a lovable chemistry that works well romantically and comedically. Blunt is also lovely and charming as the beleaguered but determined filmmaker Jody Moreno. The movie also features outstanding turns by Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, and Stephanie Hsu.
If there is a movie that deserves to be seen in a cinema, it is most definitely The Fall Guy. I highly recommend that people go see it on the biggest screen with the best sound system available—go see it more than once, in fact. I enjoyed this movie so much that I want it to get a sequel so we can enjoy these characters again and follow their further adventures.