The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 13+.
STORY: B
A screwy crime mystery that refuses to hide its love for the movies.
Colt Seavers is a washed up Hollywood stuntman. One day, he gets a phone call that opens the door for him to win back both his career and the woman of his dreams. But taking the job will involve some risk, like getting swept up in a deadly missing persons case.
Those expecting a gritty crime drama to bust through the door won’t find it here. This story saunters in, wearing a goofy smile that says, “I know that you know that I know the life of the party has just arrived, and that it’s ME!”
THE SCOOP: Check out The Fall Guy’s IMDb page, here.
PEOPLE: B-
While Blunt delivers the film’s best performance, the camera can’t keep its eyes off of Gosling’s gleaming charm.
There’s nowhere near the substance to Colt Seavers as there is to Gosling’s Oscar nominated character, Ken. It’s a good thing for the film’s sake that Gosling owns enough charm to light up every neon sign on the Honky Tonk Highway.
CAST PARTY: Check out TODAY’s interview with Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, here. (4 mins)
FILM NERD STUFF: B+
The stunt sequences are sensational, but the rest of the film has just as much going for it.
The stunts are stunning and stupendous. But the excellent cinematography, soundtrack, and editing (which includes an amazing split screen sequence) ensure the film isn’t a one trick pony.
DIRECTOR’S CUT: Check out Australia Today’s interview with director David Leitch, here. (5 mins)
ELECTIVE CLASS (QUITE A STUNT): A-
The stunt community receives some much overdue props.
The stunt community has long risked life and limb to make us laugh, jump, and spill popcorn across theater floors. It’s a travesty that they don’t get more recognition. Hopefully, this film will move the needle closer to the day they receive the honors they deserve.
BACKSTAGE PASS: Meet the film’s stunt team, here. (2 mins)
FINAL COMMENTS:
Director David Leitch (a former stuntman himself) delivers on the promised accolades for the stunt community. It’s wonderful (and a heck of a lot of fun) to watch these performers be treated as the heroes they truly are.
The Fall Guy is a fun, spectacle-filled movie, jam packed with the qualities of a 1980s throwback: silly plots, cheesy lines, and over-the-top action scenes coming out the wazoo. But I think it’s missing one essential element that make those 80s movies so great.
Back then, actors played ridiculous situations with straight faces. That juxtaposition is part of what makes those films so lovable. The performances here are too self-aware: ridiculous situations are played with smirks and winks instead of campy gravitas. To be fair, this is the style of the times. It makes sense for Leitch to tap into that style, and I’d bet most people will love it.
That tiny nit certainly doesn’t ruin the movie for me - not by a long shot - but it’s enough to knock it down from “ a great time at the theater” to just “a really good time at the theater”.