The calls for awarding stunt performers at the Oscars have grown louder in recent years with their grueling, dangerous work increasing receiving praise and recognition in film circles. At this year’s Academy Awards, the daredevils that bring Hollywood action to life onscreen were specifically recognized with a tribute from two of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars. Part of why the two were chosen was because of a new film directed by former stuntman David Leitch which uses a character that works in stunts to draw attention to the work, and treatment of, those who put their bodies on the line to inspire awe.
The Fall Guy follows Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) who is down on his luck and working as a valet one-year after an accident forced him to leave show business and his position as Hollywood’s number one stuntman. Colt is soon called by to action to by old friend and mega producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) to work on the movie debut of his former flame Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt) who he ghosted following his accident. Soon, Colt is called to find action star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) when he suddenly disappears from set. He’s soon ensnared in a sinister plot that pushes him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.
As one would expect from a movie directed by a former stuntman, The Fall Guy is full of meta commentary both in how it depicts the treatment of the underrated risk takers and of the movie itself. One scene that displays this particularly well is a conversation between Jody and Colt where she explains the mindset of the film’s two love interests to Colt in the lead up to a fiery stunt. In detailing how the female character feels after losing her former flame, it becomes clear that she is having an underlying conversation with Colt about the end of their love affair through the fictional one she is currently directing. As a result, Colt’s responses thus double as both advice to her on where to take the characters and a quasi-confession of why he suddenly disappeared from Jody’s life after his accident.
Coupled with Colt’s arc of being under appreciated and used throughout the movie for the ends of powerful actors and producers, this commentary within commentary is the source of much of The Fall Guy’s humor and the subtle love notes Leitch offers to his former profession. Gosling is usual charming self, leaning into the slightly goofy irreverence that powered unforgettable performances like 2016’s The Nice Guys. The laughs from Colt are plentiful always keep the tone light and enjoyable. Surprisingly, the mystery at the center of the movie is an intriguing one to watch unfold and provides more thrills than one would expect from an action comedy. It quickly turns from one style of track and trace film to another with the mystery’s turn and the plot at its center again providing meta commentary on the role and perception of stunt professionals in Hollywood. It’s well executed and pulls in all of the characters within the story neatly and buoys both the movie’s themes and the relationships between the characters, Colt and Jody in particular.
Of course it goes without saying that the action set pieces within the film also serve to highlight what stunt professionals bring to moviemaking with plenty of explosions, car chases, and diving and tumbling stunt pros to keep audiences thrilled and the danger and magic of film on full display. The coordination of hand-to-hand combat on moving trucks to shootouts in penthouses to cliff diving car stunts run the gamut of displaying the skill involved in shooting death defying stunts while providing an entertaining film. The Fall Guy is full of laughs, a surprisingly intriguing mystery, and a quality cast while managing to be self aware without overdoing it. Ryan Gosling once again puts his comedic chops on full display with Emily Blunt serving as a worthy supporting love interest. The movie’s romantic plot is fine, but this is much more of a vehicle for cool stunts and Gosling’s comedy than it is for Blunt to show off her chops. Still, this movie works and makes for a fun night out at the multiplex.
Image: Universal Pictures
