In Director David Leitch’s The Fall Guy, movie producer Gail Meyers, played by straight up hysterical Hanna Waddingham, tells stuntman Colt Seavers, played by self-effacing and ridiculously handsome Ryan Gosling, why she hired him for the movie directed by his ex-lover Jody Morena, played by strong, smart, beautiful Emily Blunt, “You’re like sexy bacon.” I nearly died laughing.
The Fall Guy is David’s very loose remake of Writer Glen A. Larson’s 1981 TV series starring Lee Majors reinvented in Drew Pearce’s screenplay. I was a fan of The Fall Guy TV series. The only thing both have in common is stuntman Colt Seavers. The Fall Guy is the Most Fun Movie of the Year. No, it’s not anywhere the Best Movie of the Year. The Fall Guy is more than sexy bacon.
Director and former stuntman Leitch (John Wick and Atomic Blonde) creates The Fall Guy as his homage to the often-underappreciated Movie Stuntman. David gives flowers to John Wick: Chapter 4 with the dog Jean-Claude Van Damme that viciously attacks testicles. I burst out laughing when Colt buckled up Jean-Claude’s seatbelt before jumping their car into the air. That dog is a great actor, too.
The action in The Fall Guy is amazing. David Leitch suspends disbelief as Colt leaps from a camera truck to the flying helicopter. David’s strength is martial art fight choreography. He masterfully incorporates Aikido, kickboxing, and jujitsu. Ripped Ryan expertly dispatches his attacker with kotegaeshi (wristlock) in a nightclub.
Perhaps, David’s greater gift is creating natural romantic comedy. Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling embody amazing romantic chemistry as Jody and Colt. Directing her first feature film, the epic sci-fi love story Metalstorm, Jody tells Colt that she doesn’t believe in romantic happy endings, the sustaining residue of their failed relationship.
In the narrative arc, Colt escapes in speedboat. He calls Jody on his cellphone and says, “I’m still in love with you. I want you to have your happy ending…” Jody cries. I teared up, too. Although much of Drew Pearce’s contrived story is stupid and implausible, Emily and Ryan keep it real and authentic. We are emotionally invested. Watching them on screen, we get that Colt and Jody are in love. Especially, when Jody hilariously sings her karaoke version of Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now). After being repeatedly set on fire and slammed against a wall in the Metalstorm filming take, Colt poignantly admits, “I was regretful.. I failed.” The Fall Guy is loud, stupid, and just laugh out fun. Jody and Colt’s love story is a lot of that fun.
As The Fall Guy opens, First Camera Operator Jody is on the set of a big budget action movie. Colt is the stunt double for mega action star Tom Ryder, played with useless arrogance by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Tom Ryder is Tom Cruise-light. He does none of his own stunts. Jody and Colt are in their on-set romantic relationship.
The movie action sequence goes awry and Colt crashes to the ground, breaking his back. Colt cuts off Jody from his life in his recovery. 18 months later, Colt is working as a valet. Producer Gail calls Colt and asks him to come to Australia to film Metalstorm. She tells Colt that first-time director Jody needs him to complete the filming. Still in love with Jody, Colt agrees.
Colt arrives on set and meets his longtime friend and stunt coordinator Dan Tucker, played by charismatic funny Winston Duke. In their movie game homage, Bill tells Colt, “Stay alive. I will find you.” What Daniel Day-Lewis said to Madeleine Stowe in The Last of the Mohicans. Quirky touch by Drew Pearce. After Colt flips his truck multiple times in a scene, Jody is shocked to see Colt. She did not ask him to come.
Gail confesses that she summoned Colt to find Tom Ryder, who has gone MIA. Apparently, he got involved with the wrong people. This conspiracy narrative involving Tom Ryder is weak, if not stupid. Then again, The Fall Guy is stupid fun. I mean that in the best possible way. As Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt stare into each other eyes or playfully argue about Taylor Swift, we get that they are madly and deeply in love. In that, The Fall Guy prevails against all odds. Pun intended.
The Fall Guy is the Most Fun Movie of the Year. The Fall Guy, David Leitch, Ryan Gosling, and Emily Blunt are more than just sexy bacon. They are a great time at the movies. Just have fun.