In The Fall Guy, a down-and-out stuntman must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend’s blockbuster film. Source: Australian Catholics.
Filmed in Sydney and based on the 1980s television series starring Lee Majors, this big-budget movie has action, romance and plenty of stunts for a happy popcorn audience.
The term “fall guy” usually refers to someone who has to take the blame for something, but the emphasis here is on stunt men who have to perform all kinds of literal falls in the movie’s action sequences. Later, it is revealed that Colt Seavers (Gosling), a long-time reliable stuntman, is actually the fall guy for a murder.
Sydney’s scenic beauty stars in the film. We see action on the Harbour Bridge, elaborate futuristic science-fiction stunts in front of the Opera House and action chases on the harbour.
Gosling is riding a wave of popularity after his turn as Ken in the 2023 juggernaut Barbie. His role in The Fall Guy won’t dent his popularity at all, with Gosling offering up all kinds of stunts, deadpan lines and pining for his ex-girlfriend Jody. Jody, played with captivating charm and energy by Emily Blunt, is making her first feature film, Metalstorm.
Producer Gail Meyer (Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham) calls on Colt to come to Australia to act as a stuntman in Metalstorm for lead actor, show pony Tom Ryder (Taylor-Johnson). Colt also needs to find Ryder, who has disappeared without the director’s knowledge.
Director David Leitch was a stuntman and body double in the past, including in Sydney for The Matrix films, and one can tell that he is enthusiastic about all stunts. He was one of the powers behind the original John Wick movie, so he is not afraid of violent confrontations. And, while there are a lot of those, there are also a lot of tongue-in-cheek humorous touches.
Review by Fr Peter Malone MSC, Jesuit Media.
The Fall Guy: Starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke. Directed by David Leitch. 126 minutes. Rated M (Action violence and coarse language)
FULL REVIEW
The Fall Guy (Jesuit Media via Australian Catholics)
