Review: David Leitch’s ‘The Fall Guy’ is a Stunt-Filled Blast and a Half
by Alex Billington
May 3, 2024
Making movies these days seems even more challenging than ever. Throwing tons of money at and/or hiring the most famous actors doesn’t automatically make a movie good. It doesn’t even mean that the movie will be (financially) successful anymore. One of the greatest challenges of successful filmmaking is balancing all of the artistic elements in just the right way – it has to have a great script, actors with the right chemistry not to meniton strong performances, striking visuals, the right pacing, everything else. This isn’t easy to pull off. Sometimes a filmmaker does get it just right and it makes for blissful entertainment. The Fall Guy is one of those movies. I am so glad that it lives up to its potential, to all the early hype, and lives up to the concept itself – which is meant to shine light on all of the behind-the-scenes stuntman / stuntwoman work that goes into making action movies. Even though this is technically a remake / movie version of the 1980s TV series of the same name, it feels like a singular work designed by stuntmen as a fun-for-everyone summer smash. It also feels like a landmark moment in teaching audiences about how their favorite movies are really made.
For most of Hollywood’s history, they like to play coy about how movies are really made. It’s behind-closed-door stuff, meant to be their secret sauce, or the sneaky special ingredient they don’t want regular people to know about. This is why actual on-set footage is rare, selectively chosen in promos or featurettes. Of course, movie buffs know how movies are made, and those who love filmmaking usually end up watching all of the behind-the-scenes videos. For years now, filmmakers and film lovers alike have been pushing The Academy to add a “Best Stunts” category – just like the Screen Actors Guild did for its annual SAG Awards. The Fall Guy might just be the movie that will make that finally happen – as long as its a big success and audiences embrace it. It’s so refreshing and engaging and entertaining to watch a movie where the people making the movie don’t have to “hide” any of the crew or set or stunts anymore, and can just show us what it’s actually like on set. Even with the stunts in The Fall Guy that are not on a movie set, they give us a glimpse at how they were pulled off while the credits roll. It’s nice that they finally had complete freedom to put modern day movie sets on screen and also show that it’s not always fun & games – it’s more often than not fairly chaotic.
Featuring a screenplay written by Drew Pearce, The Fall Guy is the latest action movie directed by David Leitch, himself a former stuntman (and director of Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Bullet Train previously). This is David Leitch’s best movie so far. He balances all the heart and humor and romance and cheesiness and laughs and action and stunts and movie-making pizzazz JUST right this time. A big, glamorous, entertaining, amusing love letter to making movies!! It’s a blast!! So much fun from start to finish. Yeah, it’s extremely cheesy and ridiculous and unbelievable; the romantic story at the core feels more like a gimmick than actual authentic romance, but I don’t mind. Sure, not everyone will be able to look past this issue, but it couldn’t stop me from having a good time at the movies. This is how I want my Hollywood entertainment!! I bought into it enough to kick back in my seat at the movie theater and walk out with a giant grin on my face. I say, “Let them do stunts!!” Let them go wild and crazy, let them have fun, let stuntman get time in the spotlight, let audiences see the giant orchestra of crew that work behind-the-camera to pull off these stunts and meticulously crafted cinema scenes. Bring them in on the action, too.
It has been a while since I’ve walked out of big Hollywood movie feeling this amped up by how joyful and fun and entertaining it is in just the right way. (Dune: Part Two is also brilliant but not as joyful watching Paul go down his path…) I will happily watch this again and tell everyone I know to go watch it and have a blast, too. The very good stunt dog Jean Claude (played by two other dogs) is easily my favorite character in the whole movie. Ryan Gosling is hilariously endearing as goofy, lovable, heroic stuntman Colt Seavers. Emily Blunt holds her own as the filmmaker who likes him but doesn’t want to derail her career. I had a good, long laugh with the way Pearce & Leitch setup and portray the two big villains of Hollywood (you’ll know who they are). It’s clever & satisfying to see Leitch integrate his own stunt company 87North into the movie-within-a-movie, a meta nod to the notion that yes, stunt work should be as visible & recognized as famous actors & directors. Is it flawed? Of course. Is it cheesy and check-your-brain-at-the-door fun? Yes but that doesn’t take away from how entertaining and rewarding it is as a blockbuster. The action isn’t blow-you-away innovative, but there are a few amazing stunts. Get a bucket of popcorn and bring all your friends.
Alex’s Rating: 9 out of 10
Follow Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing
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