The Fall Guy just had its world premiere at Austin’s annual SXSW TV and Film festival and we had the pleasure of seeing it. Fresh off their Barbie and Oppenheimer explosive run at the box office, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt team up for an action-filled rom-com.
Derived from the 80’s TV show of the same name, the film sees stuntman Colt Seavers (Gosling) return from a brief hiatus to work on a new film that his ex-fling Jody Moreno (Blunt) is spearheading. Metalstorm is her directorial debut and the producer Gail Meyer (played by Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham) has convinced Seavers that Jody requested him personally. To Colt’s surprise, that isn’t the case but he sticks it out and agrees to continue to work on the project, as he is still madly in love with her. Jody still makes him prove himself to her, as his going ghost did not sit right with her.
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The plot takes a turn when the film’s megastar Tom Ryder, portrayed by future Kraven the Hunter star Aaron-Taylor Johnson, has gone missing. This sends Colt on an insanely wild and funny search to find him, with his stunt coordinator Dan Tucker (Winston Duke) coming along for the ride. Tucker and Seavers have quite a bit of movie quote banter which is a nice touch for movie buffs.
Perhaps one of the best scenes that’ll be talked about involves a Scott Pilgrim-like style that was unexpected and heightened the moment. It’s also worth noting that you may never have noticed how easy it is to make Gosling look like Johnson to play his stunt double. It’s borderline uncanny when they both wear sunglasses.
The Fall Guy is a funny rom-com with adorable cheesy moments, with some thrilling action to serve as the cherry on top. But at its core, it’s a beautiful ode to stuntmen everywhere that highlights the unsung heroes who go unrecognized for their hard work. Director David Leitch spent some years as a stuntman himself and it shows, as he captured the risks they take to get the not-so-glamorous job done.
With credits such as John Wick and Deadpool, it’s clear Leitch has another box-office hit under his belt. At the moment, the Oscars don’t have a category to reward stuntmen for their contribution and this movie shines a light on that.
The perfect way to describe Gosling in The Fall Guy is an intersection between his characters in Drive and Crazy Stupid Love. He is as charming as ever and reminds audiences why we all fell in love with him in the first place. While his quirkiness was delightful in Barbie (even earning him an Oscar nom) Colt Seavers is arguably his best comedic performance. His facial expressions and comedic timing marry together so well.
While Gosling’s Ken character caught laughs because of how ridiculously goofy he was, Seavers is funny in a different way. Through the use of one-liners and a particular scene that involves Taylor Swift’s All Too Well, he pulls out a laugh from you every chance he gets without it being the least bit forced.
Gosling and Blunt’s Chemistry Is Something We Didn’t Know Our Hearts Desired
Blunt has always been a treat onscreen and that hasn’t changed. She delivers a kick-ass performance, even literally going as far as kicking some ass in a well-choreographed sequence. She holds her own in a space that Gosling truly shines in. Their chemistry is so cute to watch unfold that you just might catch yourself grinning from ear to ear (John Krasinski and Eva Mendes are two lucky individuals). Stephanie Hsu was a great addition to the cast and was just as adorable as she always is. The supporting cast added to the film, making it the complete package.
Overall, The Fall Guy is super entertaining and Gosling continues to perform and bring his A-game. It truly has it all, from comedy to action to a love story of two coworkers who initially kept it on the low. It’s so much fun and unpredictable at times, making it unique in its own way. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and doesn’t try too hard to be over the top. What a way to kick off the summer blockbuster lineup for the year.
It’s great that the film didn’t go straight to streaming, as it will most likely clean up at the box office when it releases on May 3rd. This stands as one of the top 3 films to come out of SXSW this year, with Universal’s other hit Monkey Man as one of those 3.
About The Fall Guy
Release Date: May 3, 204
Director: David Leitch
Screenplay: Drew Pearce
Executive Producers: Drew Pearce, Geoff Shaevitz, Glen A. Larson
Producers: Kelly McCormick, David Leitch, Ryan Gosling, Guymon Casady
Production: 87North Productions, Entertainment 360, Universal Pictures
Distribution: Universal Pictures
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Stephanie Hsu
Synopsis: Colt Seavers, a battle-scarred stuntman who, having left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health, is drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie—being directed by his ex, Jody Moreno, played by Emily Blunt—goes missing.
While the film’s ruthless producer (Hannah Waddingham), maneuvers to keep the disappearance of star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) a secret from the studio and the media, Colt performs the film’s most outrageous stunts while trying (with limited success) to charm his way back into Jody’s good graces. But as the mystery around the missing star deepens, Colt will find himself ensnared in a sinister, criminal plot that will push him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.
Did you catch the premiere of The Fall Guy here at SXSW? Did Gosling outperform his Barbie role? Are you excited for The Fall Guy? Let us know on social media!
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