THE FALL GUY(2024) REVIEW

 

With the notable exception of “Barbie,” modern blockbusters have become quite the serious affair. Whether it’s the dense lore of “Dune” or the self-important connected universe of the MCU, today's big films can feel like homework. This isn't to say they're not good, just that they lack the breezy charm of old-school Hollywood entertainment. You know, the kind of flick where you don’t need a PhD in franchise history to follow along. Enter “The Fall Guy,” a film that seeks to entertain you in the most delightful way. It features two of Hollywood’s most charismatic stars in fun, romantic scenarios, harking back to when stunt work was more about daring feats than CGI magic. It's a ridiculously fun movie, anchored by a perfect casting choice and a director who's been preparing for this his whole career.

David Leitch, who started as a stunt double working with stars like Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, made his directorial debut with the iconic “John Wick.” He's since helmed hits like “Atomic Blonde” and “Bullet Train.” With “The Fall Guy,” he revisits his roots, drawing inspiration from the Lee Majors show about a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter. While the new “The Fall Guy” shares little narrative DNA with the original show, it captures the spirit of ’80s TV by blending humor, romance, mystery, and action, all while nodding to the action stars that inspired it.

Ryan Gosling is effortlessly charismatic as Colt Seavers, delivering a performance that channels his likability from “The Nice Guys” and the intensity of “Drive.” “The Fall Guy” celebrates the unsung heroes of the movie industry—the stunt people—but also feels like a tribute to the era when movie stars could carry a film over any narrative hiccup. Hollywood has shifted to a story-driven approach, but Leitch and his team remember a time when a superstar's charm like Burt Reynolds at his peak, could be enough. Gosling has that charm in spades. When he performed “I’m Just Ken” at the Oscars, a guy at the bar next to me said, “I’m almost annoyed at how that guy can do anything.” “The Fall Guy” proves he was right.

Colt is reintroduced to the industry as a stunt double for diva action star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who blends elements of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Matthew McConaughey into a pitch-perfect performance. After a stunt goes wrong, Colt is sidelined for 18 months, leaving behind his girlfriend Jody (Emily Blunt) and the industry. When Jody’s producer Gail (Hannah Waddingham) convinces Colt to return as Ryder’s double for Jody’s directorial debut, the film plays like a romantic comedy before shifting gears into mystery and action. With a supporting cast that includes Winston Duke, Stephanie Hsu, and a French-speaking action dog, “The Fall Guy” has a great ensemble. The soundtrack, featuring era-appropriate needle drops like KISS's “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” adds to the nostalgic fun.    

“The Fall Guy” highlights the peril and skill of stunt work, featuring insane stunts like a record-breaking cannon roll and a fight in a spinning dumpster. Leitch balances character, comedy, and action beautifully, though it’s a shame that Blunt's role diminishes in the second half. Hsu is also underutilized, but Waddingham and Duke shine, with Duke reminding everyone that he too can do it all.

With its anti-CGI, pro-fun message, “The Fall Guy” pushes back against the humorless, character-less blockbusters that have dominated recent years. It aims—perhaps too aggressively—to remind us that movies are supposed to be fun. And in this mission, it wildly succeeds.