Movie Review: The Fall Guy

Based on the television show of the same name that ran for five seasons from 1981-86 and starred Lee Majors and Heather Thomas, director David Leitch’s new film, The Fall Guy, employs the same combination of action and sexual tension that fueled the show (albeit not necessarily between the two main characters). This approach makes for an entertaining and somewhat nostalgic aura around a film that, if approached a different way, could have resulted in another disappointing cinematic adaptation of a popular television property.

Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is a stuntman at the top of his game. He is performing death-defying stunts alongside his wannabe director girlfriend Jody (Emily Blunt) until one stunt goes awry and a severely injured Colt all but retires from the profession. That is, until his services are requested on the film that his now ex-girlfriend Jody is making her directorial debut with. The prospect of making peace with her entices him to take up the mantle of stuntman again. When he gets on set however, he quickly learns that there is more to his emerging from retirement than simply performing a few stunts as the star of Jody’s film (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has disappeared and the film’s producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) enlists Colt to track him down and bring him back to set. Of course, this is easier said than done and Colt soon finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that could derail not only his reconciliation with Jody, but her career as well.

Like he has done with films like Bullet Train (2022) and Deadpool 2 (2018), director David Leitch shows off his ability to deliver action sequences that invigorate a rather tepid plot (as in the case of Bullet Train), but also showcase a well-written story centered around a likable character played by a charismatic actor (i.e. Deadpool 2). Working from a script by Drew Pearce (whom he collaborated last with making 2019’s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Leitch embraces the entertainment value of the original property without resorting to a camp approach as have many other television adaptations. What emerges is an action/adventure piece with a legitimate mystery for the hero to solve while simultaneously trying to get his life back on track.

As Colt, Gosling does a fine job of blending the character’s natural suave demeanor with the uncertainty he is facing during this crossroads moment of his life path. Likewise, Blunt is equally capable as the talented filmmaker who is unsure exactly why her former flame has shown up on her set after so much time away. Taylor-Johnson embraces the bombastic nature of his character as a spoiled star too used to getting his way.

Ryan Gosling in “The Fall Guy.”

Nods to the original television show, courtesy of David Scheunemann’s production design, including Colt’s iconic truck, prove a welcome and non-distracting homage to the series. Along with Leitch’s use of movement to capture the action sequences, the editing provided by Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir allows the film’s action sequences to move along at a brisk and well-paced speed.

The nostalgic and non-ironic adaptation of the television series The Fall Guy allows the film to stand on its own apart from its namesake property (although there is a cameo at the end of the credits featuring original stars of the series) and exist as its own successful action/adventure film.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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