From Stunts to Stars: ‘The Fall Guy’ Pays Tribute to Hollywood’s Unsung Heroes
By Dana Barbuto/Boston Movie News
America’s sweetheart, Ryan Gosling, leads the charge into the summer movie season with “The Fall Guy,” a high-octane spectacle that is a quintessential popcorn blockbuster: packed with heart-pounding action, jaw-dropping stunts, charismatic actors, and hair-band needle drops from the likes of KISS and Journey.
Gosling, still riding the Kenergy of his “Barbie” breakout, is Colt Seavers (the character is based on Lee Majors’ role from the classic ’80s show), a retired stuntman thrust back into action as the double for the obnoxious A-lister Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson.) Colt’s world is rocked when a dangerous stunt leaves him sidelined for 18 months, estranged from his “dream girl” Jody Moreno, a camera operator played by Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”), wearing a straw garden hat and wardrobe of jumpsuits.
Enter uber-producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham of “Ted Lasso”) with a tempting offer to lure Colt out of his self-imposed exile and onto the set of Jody’s ambitious debut feature, the epic sci-fi romance “Metal Storm”—a potential Hall H Comic-Con contender. However, tensions flare once Colt arrives in Sydney. Jody is less than thrilled but definitely intrigued to see him. Gail’s ulterior motives behind his reentry into the industry add another wrinkle that she’s hiding from Jody. Ryder has fallen into some shady stuff, and Colt must find him, or else Jody’s first movie might be her last.
Under the direction of David Leitch, himself a former stunt performer, “The Fall Guy” pays homage to the craft with an array of exhilarating sequences showcasing the skill and precision of stuntwork. Colt smashes through windows, is lit on fire, crashes boats, rolls cars (eight-and-a-half times!), swings from helicopters, dangles from wires, and engages in various fight styles. All that, yet he can’t even find a good cup of coffee.
During the search for Ryder, the script, from Drew Pearce, sends Colt on encounters with a drug dealer with a leopard-print head tattoo, a Doberman that responds to commands in French and unicorns. Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), who plays a production assistant, and Winston Duke (“Black Panther”), who is a stunt coordinator, are welcome additions to the mayhem.
Leitch’s trademark (“Deadpool 2,” “Bullet Train”) blend of violence and humor shines through, peppered with meta jokes and references that add fun to the flimsy narrative. Smartly, Leitch knows what he’s got in Gosling, and the director leans heavily on the Oscar-nominee’s charisma and the chemistry he shares with Blunt, a pure delight with underrated comic chops. They are magnetic, trading snappy one-liners and flashing movie-star smiles. The best scene actually has nothing to do with flips, falls, or Miami Vice-style boat getaways (that’s one of the running jokes). Nope, it is Jody rolling up on Colt’s pickup, where he’s all misty-eyed, belting out Taylor Swift’s breakup song “All Too Well.” Jody hops on the passenger’s side, and the two characters share a genuine moment.
Later, a split-screen sequence shows them on the phone (a la Rock Hudson and Doris Day), where the romantic banter flies as they try to work out the third-act issues of the movie-within-a-movie. That’s a little too on the nose, considering the main movie also has third-act problems, namely Leitch not knowing when to call cut on his climactic sequence. The action goes on and on and tests the viewers’ patience.
Also, whenever the script separates its main characters, the movie loses some spark, leaving behind another banal action flick that’s not quite as clever as it thinks. But that’s not the point. The true stars of “The Fall Guy” are the stunt performers, who receive a bit of well-deserved recognition. Leitch underscores his commitment to celebrating the industry’s unsung heroes, introducing with “The Fall Guy,” the first-ever stunt designer credit for second-unit director Chris O’Hara’s innovative contributions. Stick around for the credits to catch a glimpse of the outtakes and meet some folks who bring these breathtaking stunts to life.
‘The Fall Guy’
Screened April 30 at AMC Boston Common
Rating: PG-13 for action and violence, drug content, and some strong language.
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Stephanie Hsu
Director: David Leitch
Writer: Drew Pearce
Running time: 126 minutes
Where to watch: In theaters May 2
Grade: B
Boston Movie News 