The Fall Guy

A movie review by Alex First

Action aplenty, hairy scenes and hijinks abound in the romantic comedic drama The Fall Guy.

Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) loves his job and his life. He is a big movie stuntman and body double for arrogant action star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

More than that, Seavers is head over heels for camera operator Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), who aspires to be a director … and she for him.

As he says, he is working with his dream girl on a dream job.

And, of course, they love the moments they steal away together.

But Ryder doesn’t like to see Seavers hog the limelight and so that can and does involve reshooting scenes.

Ryder’s indulgences are countenanced by producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham), who recognises there is big money to be made.

And then, on one such re-shoot, all goes horribly wrong. A free fall ends tragically, with Seavers breaking his back.

That puts him in a dark place, which sees him push Moreno away, even though she wants to be there for him.

Eighteen months on, in a dead-end job parking cars for a living, he receives an unexpected call from Meyer.

She tells him that Moreno is making her first movie – an alien fantasy – and wants Seavers back on set – this time in Sydney.

For anyone else, Seavers would say “no”, but this isn’t anyone else.

In fact, Meyer lied to Seavers about Moreno’s wishes. The latter had no idea Meyer was calling Seavers.

Truth be told, Tom Ryder has gotten in with a rough crowd and gone missing and Meyer is anxious to track him down before the movie goes belly up.

That becomes Seavers’ job, alongside shooting stunt scenes and winning back Moreno’s broken trust … and heart.

This time, instead of shooting blanks the bad guys mean business.

At the helm of The Fall Guy is former real-life stuntman David Leitch (Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw).

The script is from Hobbs & Shaw screenwriter Drew Pearce, based on the television series of the same name (1981-’86), which starred Lee Majors as Colt Seavers.

The key to the movie is orchestrated mayhem. Explosions, car chases and rollovers are par for the course, and it all looks mighty impressive.

Overlaying it is good-natured nonsense … and a tribute to the unsung heroes of Hollywood, the stunt performers.

There is no shortage of in jokes by way of references to other movies and some of the stunts in this stunt-laden movie are truly spectacular.

Individually and collectively, Gosling and Blunt are perfectly cast. There is an easygoing and natural chemistry between the pair.

Let’s call it as it is, they are both mighty fine and likeable actors.

They click from their first scene together and even manage to pull off a series of cheesy one-liners that liberally populate the film.

The Fall Guy is in the realm of pure escapism and farce … lightweight entertainment that you can just allow to wash over you, but enjoy at the same time.

Hannah Waddingham is a regular presence as the pushy producer hiding a dark secret. Her deliberately ingratiating performance serves to irritate, just as it is meant to.

And Aaron Taylor-Johnson captures the petulance of the action hero who thinks far too much of himself.

Shot on home soil, which should go down a treat with local audiences (Sydney looks great), The Fall Guy is loads of fun.

The filmmakers have thrown the kitchen sink at it with big-name stars at the helm, and it works.

And don’t leave before the final credits because the behind-the-scenes footage of the stunts is well worth seeing.