With all the demand for stunt crews, the unsung heroes of the movie business, that work on every production, particularly in the major action films, to get some recognition for their work, The Fall Guy could not arrive at a more apt time. The results are a spectacular tribute to those that risk their lives for our entertainment.
After leaving the business one year earlier, battle-scarred stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) springs back into action when Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), the star of a big studio movie, suddenly disappears. As the mystery surrounding the missing actor deepens, Colt soon finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot that pushes him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt, as well as coming face-to-face with an old flame, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt).
The Fall Guy is an absolute blast that truly excels at providing what people go to the cinema for... entertainment!! Being a film about a film being made, it uses a lot of meta humour throughout, which works really well in keeping the film light on its feet. More jokes about Tom Cruise please and less awkward jokes about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard though. It does, however, walk a fine line in becoming a little too smug for its own good as well as overstaying its welcome. Honestly, you could shave some time off the film to give it a sleeker feel. The positives definitely do outweigh the negatives when it comes to The Fall Guy though, the action and the performances driving it home so successfully. The use of I Was Made For Lovin' You by Kiss in the film's score was such a great choice too.
When it comes to the action sequences, The Fall Guy knows exactly what it's doing, as you'd expect a film paying homage to stunt crews to do. Whether it's a fight sequence or a car chase, David Leitch and his team pull out all the stops to make them feel so energetic. The end credits showcase the stunt work on this film alone and it's astounding to see what they achieved, a car jumping across a ridiculous gap enough to leave your jaw on the floor. They even broke a world record for the film, with the most amount of cannon rolls performed in a car on film, beating the previous record set in Casino Royale. Now, if that isn't dedication to the cause, I don't know what is.
As for the performances in The Fall Guy, the chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt anchors the film as they bounce off each other incredibly well. Gosling just has that effortless leading man quality that makes him such a magnetic screen presence, the comedic side of his range being what he truly excels at. Playing Ken in Barbie though might have damaged this a little mind, as all I can see when he does the little temper outbursts is his Ken. Emily Blunt has just as strong a screen presence too, never wilting in the background amidst all the machismo and even getting a chance to show her physicality in some action sequences too. Don't be surprised if we see Gosling and Blunt working together again very soon because they're just so great together.
The supporting cast are enjoyable to watch too, Aaron Taylor-Johnson revelling in playing such a douchebag here, channelling Matthew McConaughey at some points to great effect. There's also Winston Duke as a stunt co-ordinator who has a thing for inspiring movie quotes and naming action stars/characters while getting into fights.
The Fall Guy will hopefully play a part in getting stunt crews the recognition they deserve because it really is a long time overdue at this point. Whether you're a stuntman risking your life on set or even Tom Cruise doing all your own stunts, we salute you.
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