The Fall Guy

UK Release Date. 2 May 2024
Certification. 12A
Running Time. 2 hours 6 mins
Director. David Leitch
Cast. Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Ryan Gosling, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham.
Rating. 53%

Review.

When David Leitch unleashed his feature-length directorial debut - the uber-cool Atomic Blonde - his considerable experience as, first, a stuntman and then, later, a stunt co-ordinator ensured that the stunt work was sensational from the off. But beyond stitching together one impressive set piece after another, Leitch displayed a talent for capitalising on his cast's natural physical abilities to help sell the action. Take Charlize Theron as intelligence operative Lorraine Broughton in Atomic Blonde, for example - Theron exudes grace, strength and tenacity.

Leitch's fifth film, 2024's The Fall Guy, is an unabashed tribute to stuntmen. Taking inspiration from the 1980s TV series of the same name, The Fall Guy is a return to a time when larger-than-life stunts were the order of the day.

At the beginning of the film, we're introduced to Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), the longtime stunt double for the world-famous actor Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Seavers would appear smitten with the young camera operator, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), shooting his latest film. But a near-fatal injury ruins his career and his burgeoning relationship. Eighteen months later, Seavers, now working as a valet at a small Mexican restaurant, is persuaded by Tom's film producer, Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham), to return to the world of films to save Jody's directorial debut.

The best moments in The Fall Guy lie in the sweet, infectious chemistry and awkward exchanges between Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. But while Gosling and Blunt fully exploit the most of their natural charisma and a chemistry that is both goofy and adorable, neither can save a shallow script and an anaemic storyline. The Fall Guy may aspire to be a pastiche of the light-hearted action-romance films of the 1980s - the likes of Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Romancing The Stone and Crocodile Dundee - but Leitch's execution fails to attach any emotional weight to the proceedings.

Nonetheless, the stunt work is phenomenal, and as the high-octane set pieces pile up, as a celebration of stunt work, the film is a success at some level. The Fall Guy serves as a shining light for those individuals normally hidden in the edits and computer imagery. 

At one point in the film, the character Doone (Matuse) asks Colt Seavers, "Hey, that's why I like you, 'cause you do all the hard shit. They give Oscars for that? For stunts." The answer is a resounding no. This brief exchange feels like a pointed demand - a worthy demand. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences do not currently award an Academy Award to stunt performers or stunt coordinators. It is one of the few technical skills not celebrated by the Academy. However, last year, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the introduction of an Academy Award for Achievement in Stunt Design, beginning with the 100th Academy Awards for films released in 2027.

The emotional beat of The Fall Guy - the failure of a past romantic relationship - is roundly supported by 1980s power ballads from Kiss - I Was Made For Lovin' You, Journey - Any Way You Want It and Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name. However, I can't help but feel that those involved in the production of The Fall Guy shot themselves in the foot by re-recording The Unknown Stuntman - the theme tune from the 1980s television series. Yes, some of the lines may be problematic for a modern audience, but to replace 'Redford' and 'Eastwood' with the insipid "Who'd die to have your heart" is sacrilege. If nothing else, it shouldn't have been too difficult to construct a line along the lines of "cause I'm the unknown stuntman, that made Gosling look so cool."