The Fall Guy

Sometimes there're movies that just work, almost effortlessly. You get a great concept that's infused with natural energy, a couple of big stars that pair well together, and marry them with a director who is talented in the space. 

The Fall Guy is the perfect example of that film. It feels effortless in how entertaining it manages to be and the Gosling/Blunt pairing works so well, I wouldn't be surprised if we see it again at some point. Though...to be fair...doesn't everyone pair well with Ryan Gosling? 

Normally, I would have dedicated a normal-sized review to The Fall Guy, but there's a lot to do this weekend and I'm not sure I need that many words to explain why it's well worth your dollars and time in the theater. 

The Fall Guy - somewhat randomly named after an older TV show - features Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers. He's a stuntman for one of Hollywood's biggest stars until an accident nearly kills him. That accident also kills the emerging fling he has with an up and coming director, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). Eventually, Colt is called back into the world of being a stuntman, coincidentally on Jody's big directorial debut, and must rush to save her movie as a mystery emerges. That plot, while nothing special, continues to be engaging even during moments where it feels like a stack of side-quests that are keeping our duo separated. Some late reveals and a well-executed finale make my minor squabbles just that and the entire thing remains breezy, perhaps a bit predictable, and fun. 

Fun feels like one of the core themes with The Fall Guy. The romance is fun, the comedy is too, and the action often can be. The plot acts as a vehicle to wrap (bacon wrap, IYKYK) a love letter to the stunt community, featuring a litany of physical stunt work and very little CGI. In my aforementioned pairing discussion, this is where director David Leitch, a former stuntman himself, feels like the absolute perfect fit. His kinetic style from his impressive catalogue is sprinkled throughout and there are some inspired sequences. I mentioned the finale already, but a nightclub, drug-induced brawl that almost felt as if it had a layer of cell-shading was a major standout for me. 

Speaking of pairings, Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling - foes of last summer's Barbenheimer - are a "no brainer" pairing. They have fantastic chemistry, are both sexy as hell (cue Hansel's "That Ryan Gosling is soo hot right now!"), and their comedic timing for something like this is pitch perfect. Gosling continues to be one of modern day's most effortlessly cool movie stars, while Blunt isn't far behind. And perhaps more importantly, they both feel authentic in these roles...as if they aren't far off from their normal personalities. The humor they're provided ranges from amusing to laugh-out-loud funny while other actors/actresses like Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Hannah Waddingham play important, often humorous roles too. 

Oscars, when're you going to add a Stunt Category? 

There's a lot to love about The Fall Guy and its sheer entertainment value. Hell, I didn't even mention the fantastic music selection, but it's a movie that deserves to a trip to the theater as its largely original (aside from the old TV connection), praises a group of moviemakers that don't get enough credit, and gives you funny, hot people doing cool stunts to look at for 2 hours. I'm not sure there was a single person who left my packed theater last night without a smile on their face. 

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 8.5/10