Movies are silly
things when you really think about it, yet people can take them so unbelievably
seriously at the same time. Some people will even risk their lives to see that
just a few seconds of a film looks good, and it is these lamentably ignored thrill-seekers,
the stuntpeople, that The Fall Guy, a movie loosely based on the
80s television show of the same name, looks to celebrate in style. I was not
expecting much from this film, to be honest—I thought the trailers made it look
rather unoriginal and unfunny. But boy oh boy was I wrong, as The Fall
Guy was easily some of the most fun I have had in theaters all year.
Directed by David Leitch, a former stunt
performer himself and the guy behind such films as Atomic Blonde, Deadpool
2, and Hobbs & Shaw, the action in The Fall
Guy is appropriately brilliant, creative, and exciting, and some of it
actually features star Ryan Gosling doing his own stunts, a smart meta twist
that plays well with his character being a stuntperson who finds himself thrust
into a real-life violent situation. I am a sucker for meta-ness and movies
about making movies, and The Fall Guy instantly charmed me
with its double meanings and winking references, a feat that’s sometimes hard
to pull off without being annoying. It is a fun peek behind the camera (well,
not the actual cameras, but you know what I mean), and when combined
with a slick (if fairly straightforward and uninspired) crime conspiracy it
makes for a potent concoction, even with the third act feeling a bit excessive
and overlong.
But as exciting as these factors are on
their own merits The Fall Guy would be little more than a blip
if it weren’t for the third delicious part of the metaphorical movie casserole:
The rom-com. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are delightful to watch, their
chemistry so electric that it would make me a little nervous if I were one of
their real-life spouses (from my lips to God’s ears). The com part of the
rom-com is very good as well, ensuring that there are plenty of laughs as you
root for them to just kiss and make up already. These two, along with a
supporting cast made up of hilarious people like Ted Lasso’s Hannah
Waddingham and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, know how to handle comedy.
Action, romance, laughs, and a
behind-the-scenes glimpse into some of the most underappreciated people in
Hollywood... it’s really astounding how much The Fall Guy fits
in, and even more astounding that it does each of these things equally well. Do
I wish that the crime story was a little more engaging? Sure. Do I wish that it
were a bit shorter? Definitely. But this is a film that has a little something
for everyone no matter what their tastes, and just like the stuntpeople that
made it possible if you decide to see it you will be in for a wild ride.
The Fall Guy is now playing in
theaters.
This review was first published in the
Keizertimes on May 10th, 2024. Visit at www.keizertimes.com
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