If you’re going to make a movie about stunts then it’s only right to have a former stuntman direct it. Aside from the fact his films have a track record of success, the very topic of stunts earns David Leitch the right to steer the ship for this project.
The Fall Guy follows a down-and-out stuntman who ascends back into the film after being tricked by an industry exec. An old love interest goes from camera operator to director and runs into issues during the final stretch of her sci-fi project. There are stunts, explosions, and hijinx in this modern-day remake of the 1981 original.
If there’s one subject that’s widely enjoyed it’s watching actors not take themselves seriously. Ryan Gosling has seemingly mastered this after his hilarious performance in Barbie — he’s most certainly not ‘Ken Enough’ in The Fall Guy. Playing the role of Colt Severs, the stunt double for superstar Tom Ryder (Aaron-Taylor Johnson), he finds himself falling for a camera operator named Jodie (Emily Blunt). The two are a perfect match for each other and have visible chemistry. Things go left after an accident on set where Colt fell several stories to the ground. After suffering such a shock to the system, he disappeared.
Severs represents the stereotypical person who lacks maturity and basic communication skills and fails to express his feelings. A simple conversation could’ve prevented the insanity that ensued but that never happened. So he disappears from his job and Jodie.
Jodie is working on a movie called “Metal Storm”, a film that could be any part Starship Troopers meets Dune with a sprinkle of Mad Max: Fury Road. The original director, Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham), is a meddler and constantly stirs up trouble. Often acting as a smiling face, she has her hands in everything behind the scenes, both good and bad (but mostly bad). She’s responsible for conjuring Colt from the grave to assist in Jodie’s directorial debut. Once he arrives on set in Australia, his only friend is stunt director Dan Tucker (Winston Duke). Dan and Colt worked together in the past, and together, they communicate primarily through movie quotes. Dan is the only one Colt trusts after he discovers Tom Ryder is missing and his stunt double is a no-show.
The film is hilarious, not just because of the actual comedy, but also because nobody is taking themselves seriously. It’s a loose, fun exciting film that succeeds in the TV-to-Film conversion. 40 years ago, the ABC success arose to be a beloved television series for five years. Unlike CHiPS and Miami Vice, The Fall Guy actually works. When I say the story is about a stuntman doing stunts, this film is loaded with them. There are lots of explosions, actors set ablaze, and hilarious monologuing. There are a few drops of CGI but 90% of it is straight-up stunts.
The Fall Guy gets an 8 out of 10. This one is for the stunt lover. If you love real, raw action without the oversaturation of CGI, you’re going to enjoy this gem. It was about 30 or 40 minutes too long, but that’s the only hiccup with it. Big-name actors let loose and have fun in this ’80s remake and it’s a great time. The film is rated PG-13 and has a runtime of 126 minutes. In a film riddled with explosions and stunts, it would be worth it to go Dolby Atmos for this one.
The Fall Guy will be in theaters this Friday, May 3.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Universal Pictures