The Fall Guy – Movie Reviews by Ry!

The Fall Guy – Action, Stunts and Heart: It’s a Love Story

In a world of pizzazz, sometimes it’s grit that becomes the winning hand.  In the journey, we move forward with a sense of bravado within an eye of chance.  In that chance, what becomes real is the fun of the recognize path.  Like film, to see that forward plan becomes a manner of intrigue, but if you know the aim … then the experience becomes a fulfilling one.  In this review, I look at the latest action/rom-com style film.  Within a blending of genres and a fun cast, The Fall Guy is a hilarious romp of stunts, heart and capturing that inevitable action shot. 

In a world of longing love and missing stars, one ex-stuntman will have to go the extra mile to save his ex-girlfriend’s first shot at a blockbuster.  With everything on the line, will Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) be the hero for Jody (Emily Blunt), in the end?  When it comes to enjoying a film, it all boils down to the eye of the beholder.  No matter the circumstances, the gravitas of the moment is a matter of preference.  Even so, there are always things that are number one in most film fan circles: character and execution.  This film takes those ideals and meshes it in a journey that reflects on the art in a satirical way.  We come into this film through a generalized prologue that introduces us to Colt Seavers, who serves as a stuntman for action star, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).  On the same set, he starts a fling with camera operator, Jody.  From this introduction, a specific incident happens that thrust us into the present day, where Colt is no longer working as a stuntman.  After a series of convenient plot moments, Colt gets a call from Gail (Hannah Waddingham), Ryder’s Producer who talks him into coming to Australia to do one more gig, which is being directed by Jody.  Once he arrives on set, he learns the real reason he was brought there: To find Tom because he has gone missing (main plot point).  From here, the journey moves down a path that meshes multiple genres to create a retrospective on the art of ‘capturing the moment’.  Through the linear directive, it is the characters and set execution that propel the energy (and emotions) to a heightened experience.  Through Gosling and Blunt, you have a gripping chemistry that reflects on the passion of personal worth, but also provides a layer of context to the intrigue of moments.  As each layer is pulled back by Colt (on why Ryder is missing), it becomes an alluring factor of deadpan comedic timing, character prowess and hearty satire.  For all the cliches and archetypes that ancillary characters might portray, the retrospective on execution brings about a journey that understands itself … and propels the audience in that self-awareness for an enjoyable ride.

As certain revelations become dire to the set, Colt is conflicted on the next course of action to take.  Stuck in a predictable quagmire, he enlists the help of the film’s stunt coordinator, Dan (Winston Duke) and Jody to bring about revelations while capturing that ‘shot’ for the film.  With all the truths coming to the forefront, we head into a third act that propels all the winding threads into an action set piece that is a satirical layer of bombastic epic detail.  Within its own reflective mirror, we end up in a hilarious climax and an ironic but wholesome epilogue.  The Fall Guy pushes the art of the experience into a hilarious reflection of fun.  If you are a fan of the actors/actresses involved, action or satire like films, this is one for you.  Either way, I believe this is worth the full price of admission.

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)