The unsung heroes of movies. The invisible people behind the scenes who risk their lives for our entertainment, while the actors and actresses get all the glory. “The Fall Guy” pulls no punches and shines the light on the stunt cast.
Ryan Gosling (“La-la Land,” “The Ides of March,” “Drive”) is on a roll, fresh off his memorable performance as Ken in “Barbie” last year. Not only is he equally memorable and believable as a plastic doll toy coming to life, but also as best-in-the-business stuntman, Colt Seavers, making stunt performing looks nonchalantly cool. Falling off buildings, flying off high ramps, speed driving, car crashing, boat jumping, helicopter leaping, wall hitting or being lit up on fire over and over.
Colt was the stuntman for self-centered star, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). When Tom's ego got the best of him and asked Colt to perform a falling stunt one more time, Colt fell for real and broke his back. No longer feeling invincible and recovering in pain, he disappeared from the business and ghosted his girlfriend, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt; “Jungle Cruise,” “Mary Poppins Returns,” "The Girl of the Train," “Edge of Tomorrow,” “The Adjustment Bureau”). Jody is a camera operator and aspiring filmmaker.
Even after Colt has recovered, he refuses to back into the business and now works as a valet car attendant at a local restaurant. That is until he gets a call from a top movie producer, Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham), who has worked with him for years prior to his accident. Gail tells Colt that he's needed back on set in Australia for a movie directed by first-time filmmaker, Jody, his ex-girlfriend. Apparently, there are issues during filming and Jody wants him there.
Hoping to win back his ex-girlfriend for a happy ending, Colt hops on the plane and lands on the set, a blockbuster in the making, Dune-esque with Star Wars flair. Unbeknownst to Jody, Colt is back in the stunt driver seat, pulling off a record-breaking cannon roll of eight-and-a-half times on a sandy beach (Guinness World Records of cannon rolls in real life, performed by Gosling's real stunt double, Logan Holladay; watch the epic clip here).
Jody is none too pleased seeing Colt back, but the former flames can't resist the pull of reconnecting. Gosling and Blunt play off each other with an ease of chemistry and charm. Nostalgic montage of happy times, cute, honest and heartfelt in real time. Gosling is the MVP, tough as rock yet sensitive and isn’t afraid to shed tears.
Gail clues Colt in that Tom, who's the lead star in the movie, has gone missing, and she needs his help in finding him. Colt was Tom's longtime stunt double and presumably knows him. She doesn't want to involve the police for fear of negative publicity and having the production shut down by the studio. There's too much at stake, especially considering how popular of a movie star Tom is.
Colt comes sniffing and tries to track down Tom. He ends up being pursued by bad dudes. Thankfully, his stunt skills come in handy, as he deals with rough-and-tumble criminals. There's a lot more than meets the camera lens though. A dead body tied to Tom becomes part of the mystery, as well as the whodunnit and unforeseen conspiracy. The title of the movie has a double meaning. The ending is laughter-inducing, with a surprising cameo. Stay for a fun end credit. There's also a nod to Comic-Con fans.
Things go slower and more chaotic at the same time during the mid-section, but not without glass-breaking, gun-shooting, fist-fighting, car chasing-and-crashing, as well as dog-and-foot pursuit. Yet, beyond an action movie with huge set pieces, rain, sand, dust, fire and explosives. “The Fall Guy” shows a lot of love on how the stunts are performed and filmed, with crisp camerawork.
There's something magical about movie-making (“Trumbo,” “Hail, Caesar!”, “Babylon”). Massive number of people getting together in a single location, playing real life roles down to the smallest detail, creating a make-belief world into something real that is etched in history. An artistic creation that entertains, educates, informs, touches, uplifts and inspires millions of people around the world.
Summer blockbuster has arrived. “The Fall Guy” is an action adventure, mystery thriller and romantic comedy, a crowd-pleaser that has something for everyone. A joyride on full throttle for movie lovers and thrilling tribute to stunt performers.
