‘The Fall Guy’- Film Review | Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt Shine in Hollywood’s Love Letter to Stuntmen

Are you a particular movie buff who loves an adrenaline-pumping action flick? Do you feel that the unsung heroes of the entertainment industry are the stunt team? If so, you’ll find so much to appreciate while watching The Fall Guy. This movie is not just another typical action-packed adventure; it’s a dedication to the talented and hardworking stunt team that makes the impossible look possible on the big screen. Will this finally be the one to make the Academy create a long-overdue Oscar category? Probably not. However, with a perfect blend of comedy and romance to make things worthwhile, The Fall Guy is undoubtedly the ideal kickoff to the summer movie season.

What’s the Story: Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is a top-notch Hollywood stuntman doubling for troubling action star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). After getting seriously injured during a stunt, Colt stepped away from the business for a year and a half, including ghosting his girlfriend, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), a camera operator with whom he had a strong connection. Things might turn around for him when Colt gets a call from producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) that he’s been asked to be a part of Jody’s directional debut, the big-budget sci-fi epic called “Metalstorm” in Sydney, Australia. But in reality, Colt is there to locate Tom after he’s gone missing, thinking he’s involved with some shady criminals, which means it’s up to him to save Jody from landing in the director’s jail.

Having director David Leitch to helm this makes sense, considering his background as a former stunt performer coordinator paid off. He has since transitioned into stepping behind the camera to deliver Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw and Bullet Train. When he was tasked with making a loose, big-screen adaptation of the 1980s television series starring Lee Majors, he understood that this must have been tailored for him. It’s a show I might’ve heard of in passing but have yet to become familiar since it was before my time. But it’s interesting to have Gosling’s Colt go on this mission entirely out of his element, where he finds himself in real-life danger, unlike what he usually does on-set. Not that The Fall Guy is aiming to be a cinematic treasure, but it delivers the promise of a blockbuster to have around with a surprising meta factor between the action and the filmmaking process many will admire. Watching this helped me appreciate those willing to challenge themselves into doing practical work and how stunt actors have taken a step up to show they’re committed professionals to whatever they’re working with. Even though I don’t have any connection to the show, only knowing the premise might differ, it’s the same as The Fugitive or 21 Jump Street, where it’s still entertaining despite never being a part of the demographic.

Talking about the action of it all, it never disappoints, putting trust in Leitch’s court to make them excited one after the other thanks to the work of the stunt performers and having them look practical. Whether during the filming of this ridiculous fictional movie poking fun at Dune or anywhere Colt has to get out of trouble, it doesn’t need to be gritty, but the team over at 87North continues to have these set pieces well-crafted. Learning this broke the record for the most cannon rolls captured on film is even more significant. Anyone asking for a sequence of Gosling riding on the back of a dumpster truck while on the Sydney Harbor with an adorable dog might not be out there, and yet it’s in here, along with a song pretty hilarious in its contract. Nothing’s too over the top compared to some recent movies that have us suspend disbelief.

The film’s main draw is Ryan Gosling, who gives another memorable performance that differs vastly from the other stuntman characters in Drive. I loved seeing how fun Colt is determined to get the job done while also lending his heart back to the woman he doesn’t want to let down again. You can see why his character is crazy about Blunt’s Jody. The relationship they’ve built makes the romantic aspect effortlessly charming when they’re together, hoping to rekindle what they had through their banter. Coming off their Oscar-nominated roles in Barbie and Oppenheimer, respectively, Gosling and Blunt’s charisma of wanting more from each other is, as Robert Palmer once sang, simply irresistible. One of the funniest scenes involved Jody’s doing multiple takes of Colt during a scene on fire while discussing their past over the megaphone while the crew listens in. It could be unrealistic for a first-time director to take up that much time, but I laughed pretty hard in the theater. How is it they haven’t worked before. This further proves two things: First, we’re at a time where I can’t seem to hate Gosling based on his career choices, excelling as an incredible actor in comedies, dramas, and musicals. Second, This will have anyone again fall head over heels for Blunt, including me.

The supporting cast gets less attention than the two leads, but they are solid additions nonetheless. Waddingham, Taylor-Johnson, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke all performed well. Duke, in particular, stood out as Colt’s stunt coordinator friend. I can relate to him because he always quotes movies when the occasion comes.

Thinking about the plot, Drew Pearce’s screenplay excels with action and comedy, even when there were more jokes that worked 80% of the time. When it deals with Colt finding Tom, it gets a little complicated to follow through on first viewing, and it’ll take some adjusting. Aside from that, it is a tad too long at 126 minutes, as it could’ve shaved off a good ten. This won’t be the film to ignite an undiscovered passion to join the field. But it clearly shows a celebration of what Hollywood hasn’t given enough credit for. If Universal doesn’t give a go on a sequel sometime later this year, it’ll be a mistake because I wouldn’t mind seeing another potential Colt adventure.

The Fall Guy encapsulates what audiences appreciate about an old-fashioned action comedy. It’s a re-watchable love letter to the hard-working stunt crew we should always acknowledge. Topped with the winning chemistry and performances from Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in Leitch’s strongest film yet, it’s a predictable ride for sure but a worthy TV-to-movie adaptation.