It’s such a damn shame that audiences weren’t more receptive to “The Fall Guy” because this has the potential to really blossom in to a big franchise if it were given the chance. David Leitch produces not only a great action comedy, but also a movie that simultaneously satirizes Hollywood and pays tribute to stunt performers across the world. “The Fall Guy” knows its premise and uses the opportunity to paint the picture of being a stunt worker in film as a noble profession that is often dismissed and ignored. “The Fall Guy” first and foremost is a great action picture, one filled with great talent that helps keep the admittedly convoluted premise afloat.
Colt Seavers is a battle-scarred stuntman fresh off an almost career-ending accident. He is persuaded to return to his stunt career when he’s told his ex, Jody who is directing her first film and asked for him specifically. With hopes of winning her back, Colt returns to set only to find the movie’s leading man missing and production in peril. Ensnared in an increasingly wild conspiracy, he must solve the mystery to save Jody’s film and get one last shot with her.
Ryan Gosling is just so good as Colt Seavers and brings to the character a humility and self-awareness that’s sorely needed in a movie so purposely grandiose. Pearce sneaks in some good welcome Hollywood satire, poking fun at lot of filmmaking tropes, as well as Hollywood elites (Tom Ryder is obviously a poke at Tom Cruise). “The Fall Guy” doesn’t get down and gritty as it revels in being loud, large, and pretty explosive and has a good time depicting this mission Colt has to go through in order to solve a mystery. I’d never seen the original TV series upon which this movie is based, but I was always very aware of it.
Thankfully, writer Drew Pearce draws from a pretty fun concept, allowing Ryan Gosling to go hog wild bringing his penchant for believable action and sharp comedy to the film. Playing off of Gosling well is Emily Blunt who is abundantly charming as Colt’s ex-lover and up and coming director Jody. The two have a palpable tension that amounts to some of the most adorable moments in the picture. Meanwhile folks like Aaron Taylor Johnson, and Winston Duke are also fantastic in supporting performances that help compliment the picture. That said, the extended cut doesn’t bring much difference to the original cut of the film, despite being twenty minutes longer. Some scenes are just given longer takes and there is also room for more dialogue.
“The Fall Guy” also took a little too long to get up and going for my taste as it takes at least a good twenty minutes before we actually get to the meat and potatoes of the film. Before that the script invests in a lot of exposition and setting up a ton of foreshadowing, and almost loses sight of what we’re here to see. In either case, “The Fall Guy” garners a slew of great action sequences and set pieces, as well as some fun interplay with Gosling who is just a natural in this role. Colt Seavers is a fascinating protagonist who I could see re-visiting again in a sequel or two for some new adventures.
“The Fall Guy” does stick to its television roots feeling often episodic, and mixes in neo-noir, mystery, comedy, and romance pitch perfectly. “The Fall Guy” is a great example of how to adapt classic TV shows, using the idea as a means of conveying some interesting, clever ideas and great entertainment all around.