"The Fall Guy" fails to achieve the necessary impact for a striking success.
At its core, director David Leitch ("Deadpool 2") has delivered a movie that thrives on its love for films, with a focus on the thrilling stunt work which was once his specialty. This film can be seen as an adaptation of the TV show starring Lee Majors, loosely based on a stuntman whose struggles spill from the set into real life, forcing him to employ his skills against real bad guys.
This journey starts with Gosling's character, Colt Seavers, acting as the stunt double for the egotistical star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), all the while forming a connection with Jody (Emily Blunt), a fellow team member.
After enduring an accident which disrupts his life, Colt is reluctantly drawn back into the business as Gail (Hannah Waddingham), the fast-talking, problem-solving producer of all Ryder's projects, convinces him to join the production of his newest space movie - the one that marks Jody's directorial debut. However, this reunion is not as ideal as he hoped.
Underlying the renewed interest in Colt is the aftermath of off-screen drama and Ryder's involvement with shady characters. This sends Colt into private-eye mode, employing his movie-honed skills to negotiate dangerous situations.
Despite the buildup, the romance and the action sequences sometimes feel dry between the elaborate stunts that stand out as the highlight of "The Fall Guy." The appeal of this film rests in the comical moments, with Gosling giving a charming and hilarious performance as Colt - a character with a remarkable “neediness”. However, the relatively dated premise this story was built upon remains somewhat strained.
In the end, "The Fall Guy" is mostly remembered for smaller moments and features that add another layer of entertainment, such as Colt's stubborn boss's preoccupation with quoting movie lines, Taylor-Johnson's uncanny resemblance to Matthew McConaughey, and a stunt dog trained to obey commands in French.
Ultimately, "The Fall Guy" is hindered by the weight of expectations and its status as a big-budget production, yet it manages to remain a lighthearted tribute to the unknown stuntman. Gosling has done well to maintain the movie's appeal with his engaging personality, but attempting to elevate it further is a challenge, even for him.
“The Fall Guy” opens in US theaters on May 3. It is rated PG-13.
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The film's entertaining elements, such as Colt's boss's movie quote obsession and the stunt dog's French commands, contribute to an overall enjoyable viewing experience. Moreover, the audience can enjoy watching Gosling's comedic and hilarious performance as the needy Colt, adding another layer of entertainment to the movie.
Source: edition.cnn.com
