‘The Fall Guy’ REVIEW: A love letter to the world of stunts
‘The Fall Guy’ REVIEW: A love letter to the world of stunts
Cole Seavers (Ryan Gosling) underneath a tow truck in an action sequence. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Philippines.
The Fall Guy is a love letter to the stunt workers in the film industry. As a stunt performer and coordinator himself, director David Leitch loosely adapts the 1980s action-adventure series as a modern cinematic statement of why stunt performers deserve more recognition in the centuries-long existence of the profession in film and television.
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, fresh from the success of Barbie and Oppenheimer, two of 2023’s commercially successful films, are a match made in heaven. Gosling plays Colt Seavers who is way past his prime as an action choreographer and finds himself working with Tom Ryder, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, with whom he has worked for as a double in most of his films. Blunt plays Jody Moreno, Colt’s ex-girlfriend who is currently directing her feature film debut. As Tom goes missing in mysterious circumstances, Colt is tasked to find Tom and save Jody’s film from shutting down.
The Fall Guy isn’t just an ode to the daredevils of the film industry, it also acts as a self-aware piece of meta-cinema that caters to the action and rom-com crowd. Leitch injects his passion and dedication to the craft that makes humans seem superhuman. This makes Colt Seavers a perfect juxtaposition between a normal human being looking to make ends meet and a “superhero” putting his body on the line for the love of the game (and of course, the film’s action-serving moments).
Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt) holds a microphone during a film shoot in the film. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Philippines.
All the while, the film’s must-see action-packed sequences are deserving of hogging the spotlight. Before The Fall Guy, Leitch has had Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and Bullet Train under his directorial belt. Not to mention co-directing, although uncredited, the first John Wick film. The guy knows action and how to make memorable moments on a micro-scale. For the established Hollywood star that he is, Gosling has been lending his acting chops in action blockbusters in recent years, notably The Gray Man and The Nice Guys. Although he is no Tom Cruise, the level of charisma and star power Gosling provides on-screen will make everyone fall in love with him.
This leads us to the romantic side of the film, which intertwines with the overarching action and drama-heavy circumstances. Seavers and Moreno have this push-and-pull relationship that could’ve been a filler sub-plot, but with the insane chemistry and commitment to the roles, Gosling and Blunt pull this one off. The comedic timings, more often than not, fall flat if we have leads who we feel don’t enjoy working with each other.
Colt Seavers and Jody Moreno share a moment. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Philippines.
Fortunately, Gosling and Blunt’s stellar performances make us feel like they’re truly in love. A surefire crowd-pleasing scene even involves Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” playing on the radio whilst Seavers cries over what happened between him and Moreno after time has passed. The scene is a neat depiction of how vulnerable men can also be and there’s nothing wrong with that, albeit for comedic purposes. Gosling is a lovable golden retriever boyfriend which makes his vulnerabilities in the film feel warm and beguiling.
On the other hand, I think it’s quite cute to have the love they share for one another born from their love for filmmaking, which can also be said about Leitch and the whole crew’s efforts in delivering a fun summer blockbuster that cinephiles, casual moviegoers, and even the rom-com aficionados can enjoy. There’s a platter for everyone as the film hits the right notes and makes them count every time.
Colt Seavers rides a camera crane car Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Philippines.
Unfortunately, the film suffers from a villain problem, not that it is the film’s main draw to begin with. But the revelation that happens towards the third act derails the momentum the film has been rolling with. We were all riding high from the action spectacle, but it ran into a pit stop when the motivations seemed a bit cartoony. But, the film’s ending does take the film on an uphill climb to a tremendous payoff.
An even more pleasant callback to the past is the use of Kiss’ “I Was Made for Lovin' You,” a roaring track from the American rock band that accompanies the action-heavy scenes in the film. Again, such a good song choice that encapsulates both the hard-hitting action and romance that is sprinkled all over: a match made in heaven.
The Fall Guy is now showing in Philippine cinemas.
