By now, you have seen The Fall Guy’s trailer several times and it is finally here for the theatrical release after playing at the SXSW Film & Television Festival in March. It is full of action, even more than the trailer, and it is hard not to keep a smirk or smile on your face while watching this film.
A highly skilled stunt performer, Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling, Drive, The Place Beyond the Pines), has been the long-term stunt double for Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Things seem to be going well for Seavers on the job and with his relationship with Judy Moreno (Emily Blunt), a director’s assistant. He hurts his back on the stunt job, must leave stunt work to recover and leaves Jody in the dark about their relationship and film work.
This action – comedy is satisfying overall with the script, story and some unexpected comedy that will keep you smiling if not full on laughing out loud in the theater. If you love watching stunt drivers do what they do best in vehicles, there is plenty to watch and the noise that goes with it.
Colt loves movies and the work he does for a living. While in recovery, he was away from all he loved, so he perks up when a producer, Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”) contacts him with news about Jody. Gail states Jody is now a director of a movie and wants him to be Tom’s stunt double. He finds when he is on set that Jody did not ask for him and is still upset that he cut her from his life. You will see some very funny use of the bullhorn in the conversation they are having.
Colt’s best friend and stunt coordinator, Dan (Winston Duke) is super glad to have him back on set. They have some fun times as they quote dialogue from films. Colt is ready to get back in the saddle, but it is not long before we find out why the producer, Gail Meyer, needs Colt and his skills. Gail sends Colt on a mission to go find out where Tom Ryder has gone to, without telling Jody or anyone else that Ryder has been off the set for a while. Colt follows the instructions and in doing so, finds more than he bargained for.
The screenwriter Drew Pearce created the mystery behind why Gail brings Colt back on the set. This action comedy takes a turn for becoming a thriller as is seen in the trailer with a body on ice in a bathtub, why some thugs are looking for a certain cell phone and several unknown characters get in the way of finding the action star he is looking for. He is put in situations where his stunt skills are used for surviving what keeps coming after him. The director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde), a former stunt double, has created several scenes throughout the film – indoors, in the air, or on land/water – it is one after another and keeps the audience engaged. Colt has worked with a canine companion named Jean-Claude and lucky for him, he runs into him on the street with another filmmaker friend. He speaks French to the dog who immediately responds to his commands when the nice stroll becomes anything else but picture perfect.
Blunt and Gosling have good movie chemistry in the various scenes of action and comedy. It is hard not to say more but go see it and have a roaring good time at the theater.
Source: Universal Pictures