Action movies are the purest form of escapism. Where else can you leave the real world behind and watch martial artists fly through the air, people bend time and space to dodge bullets, or jump out of a 30 story tall burning building on fire? The one thing this and almost all films have in common is the unsung hero of Hollywood – the stunt person. These are the brave men and women who submit themselves to dangers that could (and sometimes do) break their bodies just for our entertainment. The Fall Guy is a tribute to all their hard work all the while being a blast to watch and one of my favorite movies of the year.
Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) used to be one of the top stunt men in the business until an accident sidelined him. Estranged from his peers and (now) former girlfriend Jody (Emily Blunt), he bides his time as a valet at a local Mexican restaurant. Gail (Hannah Waddingham) the producer of Jody’s first film, pleads with him to fly to Australia to assist on the production, and he begrudgingly agrees. Upon arrival he learns that the real reason he is there is to track down star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who has been missing for days. Colt only has a few hours to find the actor before the studio shuts the project down, but as he dives deeper into the mystery of what actually happened, he and Jody discover a conspiracy darker than they could have imagined.
Most summer blockbusters are simple and can be compared to cotton candy in that it’s fun while it lasts but doesn’t amount to much more than a brief, sweet treat. The Fall Guy manages to escape this cliché by letting us get a sneak peak into what the stunt business is all about. Just as Birdman made us keep looking for where they were sneakily making the cuts, this wants us to notice each stunt and examine it for how it’s done and the inherent danger that is present.
Which makes sense as director David Leitch is a master at the craft having been doing and coordinating stunts for years. He lets us in on the process during the first moment of the film and then keeps raising the stakes in each new scene which makes us feel more in awe about the people who are performing these dangerous events. And even though we have a lot of them, it’s the focus on the characters which is the real thrust of the story.
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt not only share great chemistry but also a surprising amount of heart one wouldn’t expect to find in an action flick. Gosling manages to be the hero without the sort of machismo that is stereotypical for a role like his, and they actually let him show real emotion. Blunt never gets sidelined and easily holds her own as his equal by saving his skin a few times and doing more than her fair share to help take down the bad guys.
This could have easily devolved into a mindless piece of fluff, but it’s smart and allows us a peek behind the curtain to see what the stunt process really looks like all the while being a blast to experience. Even when it’s not jumping off of buildings or flipping cars, The Fall Guy is endlessly entertaining while still allowing its characters to feel like real people. It’s a love letter to the film making process and to stunt performers, and it shows other genre films what good looks like. I can’t think of the last time I walked out of the theater and immediately wanted to go back and see it again, but I’m excited to hop back in and relive the experience. You’ll also never look at another action movie the same again and will hopefully truly appreciate the amount of work and talent that goes on behind the scenes to bring them to life. Just remember, don’t try this at home, kids. You probably won’t walk out giving a thumbs up like these professionals do.
I would also be completely remiss if I did not make sure to include Ryan Gosling’s stunt actors here – Justin Eaton, Troy Brown, Logan Holladay, and Ben Jenkin. They literally couldn’t have done the movie without you. Well done, guys!