‘The Fall Guy’ Movie Review: Ryan Gosling’s Action Film Packs The Right Punches

Lifestyle Asia rating: 4.5/5
Genre: Action, Comedy
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke
Director: David Leitch
Run-time: 126 minutes
When and where to watch: In theatres from 3 May 2024

Plot of The Fall Guy: Loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers, the story revolves around the life of a stuntman working on his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut action film. While he imagines it to be an opportunity to win her love back, the stuntman finds himself entangled in a conspiracy surrounding the film’s lead actor.
What we liked: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s stunning chemistry, Intriguing plot twists
What we didn’t like: Stephanie Hsu’s short screentime

The Fall Guy movie review: Is the film worth a watch?

Ryan Gosling essays the role of Hollywood’s much-loved stunt performer Colt Seavers, who is in love with camera operator, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). A certain accident on the sets of a film starring famous action star, Tom Ryder, (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) makes Colt retire from his job. However, when Jody invites him to work on her debut film, the stuntman decides to get back in Business. While he assumes that the film will help him reconcile with Jody, Colt finds himself involved in some serious drama and a Mysterious situation involving Tom.

What makes The Fall Guy one of the best movies of 2024?

John Wick (2014), Deadpool 2 (2018), Bullet Train (2022) — David Leitch has been credited for making some of the best action films in the past. So when The Fall Guy was announced, fans were excited to see how the filMMAker was going to surprise them this time. Safe to say that the film delivers what it promises. The Fall Guy is an entertaining, action-packed romantic drama that keeps you engaged throughout the film. A perfect ode to the escapist cinema that we all love and the unrecognised contributions of stunt artists, the Ryan Gosling starrer does not have even one single dull moment during its entire runtime.

What works best for the film is the perfect balance that David has managed to create with the storyline. We have seen a similar pattern in Deadpool 2, where the character sees certain highs and very intense lows. But with The Fall Guy, the formula works even better. The gripping plot twists, the stunning chemistry between Ryan and Emily and the theatrical climax act as the strongest points for the review of The Fall Guy.

It is a film created by people who love cinema and what it stands for, and each scene portrays the same. A subtle tribute to the efforts that the stunt team puts in, the film makes you respect the stunt performers even more. Interestingly, the title of the film also has an ingenious link to the difficult situations that Colt finds himself in during the second half of the movie, making it a very interesting watch. Through fun scenes, the film also highlights how there are no awards for stunt performers, which compels you to think about the topic even more.

Coming to the performances, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are just continuing their 2023 winning streak with this film. Only this time, the forces have combined to give the audience a new pair to crush on. From being Taylor Swift fans to planning the ultimate climax, the duo manages to create magic on the screen. The actors are backed by an amazing supporting cast, with Hannah Waddington as the wicked film producer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the spoilt movie star who thinks that the world revolves around him and Winston Duke as the nicest stunt coordinator on the sets of Jody’s film. Lee Majors and Heather Thomas, who starred in the original television series, have cameo appearances in the film, and you will not want to miss Jason Momoa’s cameo in the end.

What makes the film a complete package is the comic relief that the story provides from time to time. You’d find yourself laughing more than often at silly jokes and frivolous scenes. The BGM only adds to the anticipation, and you might find yourself googling most of the songs you heard in the film. Last but not least, the stunts that Ryan Gosling and the other cast members performed in the film were only made possible because of artists like Troy Lindsay Brown (Ryan Gosling’s stunt double), Bridget Burt, Justin Eaton (Aaron Taylor Johnson and Ryan Gosling’s stunt double), Logan Holladay (Ryan Gosling’s stunt double), Ben Jenkin (Ryan Gosling’s stunt double) to name a few. So kudos to them for all the efforts that they had to put in to make the film look this good.

The Fall Guy movie review: Final Verdict

The Fall Guy has already earned a Guinness World Record for the highest number of cannon rolls in a car. Stunt driver, Logan Holladay flipped the vehicle eight-and-a-half times for a scene, beating the previous record of six in Casino Royale. This proves how much effort has gone into making the film. And it is only fair to appreciate the hard work by watching the film. To conclude the review for The Fall Guy, you will not realise how swiftly the two hours of the movie will go by and you will come out with the biggest smile on your face. Sit back and watch the credits for some fun BTS videos.

More movies like The Fall Guy: Men in Black (1997), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Tropic Thunder (2008), The Heat (2013), Deadpool (2016), Logan Lucky (2017), Game Night (2018), Birds of Prey (2020), Hit Man (2023)

All Images: Courtesy IMDb

The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– Is The Fall Guy a good movie?
Yes, it is worth a watch.

– What is The Fall Guy based on?
It is loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers.

– Is The Fall Guy a remake?
No, it is not a remake.