2024 Summer Movie Season - The Fall Guy: Review & Analysis

 Picturesque!!!! Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt Action Comedy Is The Total Summer Movie Package & Earnest Love Letter To The Unsung Heroes of The Industry!!! 

Review By Brandon Porter

Somebody call for a stunt guy.

Story Description

When it comes to the best of the best in the stuntman industry, no one is more reliable or hard-working than Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling). For years, he’s constantly put his body on the line to help get the perfect shot without ever getting the recognition he deserves. His daredevil escapades and light-hearted charm make him a constant favorite amongst directors in the industry including his crush and former flame director Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). One day without warning, the star of Moreno’s upcoming film has mysteriously gone missing and top brass has, for reasons unknown, recruited Colt to find him and make sure he’s available and doesn’t cause Moreno’s potentially career-defining project to go up in flames. Upon digging deeper, Seavers discovers the forces at play here are more serious and dangerous than he thought. Now on the run from gangsters and assassins aiming to keep him silent by any means, Seavers must rely on his wit and his years of death-defying stunt mastery to solve the mystery at hand while trying not to die for real in the process.

Colt and Jody share a special chemistry off the set.

Film Review

Director David Leitch and Ryan Gosling prepare to kick off the summer season with an action blockbuster that puts one in-over-his-head stuntman in one of the most daring stunts ever. Only this time..it’s all real. A talented ensemble that also features the talents of Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor Johnson, and Winston Duke is looking to kickstart an SMS that will have its share of challenges due to a previous summer that shook the industry to its core. After experiencing the chaos of this action comedy, The Fall Guy is everything you want in a summer movie but offers so much more as well. Knowing his background as a stunt coordinator, it is very apparent that David Leitch took a very personal approach when crafting this movie. On the surface, it is a fun and fast-paced romantic action comedy with a ton of heart. Underneath it all however is a heartfelt love letter to blockbuster filmmaking and the people who sacrifice so much to make iconic moments with little to no recognition. We'll dive deeper into the nuances and at times pointed in narrative commentary later in the review but for now let's give some props to the cast for there is plenty of praise to go around. Ryan Gosling is fantastic as our lead Colt Seavers as he continues to show why he is one of the most versatile actors in the industry today. Gosling has this incredible ability to adapt to whatever thematic situation he is in and keep the audience engaged. Seavers is incredibly likable and easy to root for thanks to his quick-witted charm and self-deprecation. He brings such life to the character in addition to some heartfelt vulnerability that makes him more than just some expandable stunt guy. This film should show that Gosling is one of the top-tier performers working today. Emily Blunt is equally great alongside Gosling as Jody. Blunt matches Gosling in terms of quick-witted humor and the chemistry they share makes for some fun moments that are genuine and heartfelt through and through. Jody is also easy to root for thanks to Blunt's ability to have her be passionate and vulnerable without it coming off as arrogant or standoffish. You want her to succeed just as much as Colt and it makes their love story all the more engaging as a result. A few other standouts also make the movie an absolute blast. Winston Duke once again steals every scene he's in as he makes the most of the time he has on screen. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Hannah Waddingham are despicably entertaining as the sleazy antagonist duo of Tom Ryder and Gail. They are a great pair that really highlights the callous nature of the industry and how cruel people can be to those who they think are expendable.

So who's the real star of this show?

This brings me to one of The Fall Guy's most surprisingly profound aspects. The film has an unsubtle inner message about the blockbuster filmmaking industry and the people who sacrifice so much to make the things we love. Every person on a film set is vital to the success of a project. Unfortunately, there are times when individuals, such as higher-ups and even the stars of the movies themselves, believe that certain people who contribute to these films are expandable or replaceable altogether. The film uses that as a plot device to structure a story that is engaging but also incredibly pointed as well. It also couldn't have come at a more convenient time knowing that we are only several months removed from a recent writer and actors strike for the very issues addressed in the movie. It's an aspect of the film that I believe will spark conversation and bring necessary awareness to so many aspects of the filmmaking process that get overlooked or taken for granted. Going back to the film itself, it was so much fun from start to finish. If you're looking for a summer movie that has pretty much everything you would want, The Fall Guy has you covered. The action is fast-paced and well-choreographed which is unsurprising given who is in charge, the writing and humor is well paced and well-balanced, it has a ton of heart, and the romance is genuine. For a movie that has so much going on, it does so many things right in an effective way. Overall, The Fall Guy is a movie that really hits all the marks of what you want in a summer cinema experience. It has something for everyone while also highlighting aspects of the craft that at times get overlooked. With an industry that is still licking the wounds of its recent labor strikes, who knew a silly action comedy about a stunt guy would be a strong reminder of why the human aspect is vital to making any film feel authentic. 

Rating and Final Thoughts

Filled with fast action, wit, heart, and humor,
 The Fall Guy is a highly entertaining Swiss army knife of a
summer flick that is a treat for anyone who loves the movie making 
experience and the people who bring it to life.

Would you call that a successful shoot?