Two stars of last summer’s greatest hits have come together to produce what will probably be this summer’s greatest hit in a true “Barbenheimer” crossover fashion. The Fall Guy at its core is all about love—love for film production, love for an old flame, love for your profession, but most importantly, love for all the stunt performers that put their lives on the line to deliver the magic of the cinematic experience.
Based off the 80s television series with a similar premise, The Fall Guy follows stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) as he’s pulled out of his reclusive life by producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) to track down hot-headed Hollywood star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor Johnson) who has mysteriously disappeared from the set of Metalstorm which is ironically directed by Colt’s past lover, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). Colt is sent to recover Ryder and enlists the help of his stunt coordinator Dan Tucker (Winston Duke) and Ryder’s personal assistant Alma Milan (Stephanie Hsu), but when things go awry, Colt is left to resort to his own measures in a thrilling sequence of events that take place throughout Sydney, Australia.
Being central to the story and heart of the film itself, the stunt work is visually stunning and expertly choreographed, showcasing the skill and dedication of the team that brought it together. The sequences are adrenaline-fueled and are endearing in such a way that it makes one appreciate the work that goes into it that much more. It’s clear how much emphasis was placed into making stunt work the forefront of the film with so much care put into showcasing all the handiwork and backstage craft that all comes together to pull off a stunt move.
You can tell every member of the cast and crew had a blast working on this project, especially the stunt team, to whom this film is ultimately dedicated. It serves as a tribute to the unsung heroes of everyone involved in behind-the-scenes work and the incredible energy and passion that’s poured into creating productions like this. Colt Seavers is exactly what Ken from Barbie would be like if he were released into the real world. Ryan Gosling is able to unabashedly act like himself and is very energetic opposite Emily Blunt who is a little more down-to-business but knows when to have fun when she wants to. The chemistry they have is electric while also providing a strong emotional core amidst all the action and excitement.
In addition to already being a thriller, there’s an extra package of oozing entertainment that incorporates elements of meta-humor, clever song choices, and exciting cameos that’ll induce the maximum amount of applause and laughter. The very ironic humor takes jabs at studios and the industry as a whole in a surprisingly light-hearted and self-aware manner that almost parodies itself. At times it takes the “self-referential” aspect a little too far and uses it as a cop-out for the lack of proper development in the story which results in a bit of a jumbled solution, but in all honesty—for something that already pokes so much fun at itself and is helped by the charm of the action, a minor flaw such as this is easily overlooked.
The licensed music is carefully inserted into the most emotionally palpable and action-packed scenes which only elevates the comedy while still retaining the mood of the scene. One song in particular will have you singing in your car getting lost upstate on the drive home. As for cameos, the most prominent one is alluded to early on in the film and finally pays off in the end for probably the greatest celebrity self-insert gag in recent memory. There’s always so much going on at all times that it’s easy to just get lost in all the charisma and excitement.
It seems like David Leitch took all the criticisms of Bullet Train and turned it on its head and made something even greater in production that is imbued with the passion, humor, and energy from everyone in the movie-making business. The Fall Guy is a love letter above all else and does not pull any stops in constantly acknowledging that fact. There’s something to be said about the Guinness record-breaking stunt performed here by Logan Holladay (Gosling’s body double) that they went to great lengths to achieve solely for this film, and if that doesn’t convince the Academy to award stunt performers at the Oscars then who knows what will.
The fun doesn’t end there, because in true Hollywood blockbuster fashion, there is a mid-credits scene that wraps off the film very nicely with one last cameo that fans of the 80s series will appreciate. Please watch this film in theatres where it will be best enjoyed and form your own opinion.
The Fall Guy, directed by David Leitch, stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Hannah Waddingham and Stephanie Hsu. The film releases in US theatres on May 3, 2024. If you liked this review, please be sure to check out some of our other articles and reviews here at Feature First. Thanks for reading!
