Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Those are two names certain to fill cinema seats, and, having secured the two mega stars, The Fall Guy could have rested on its laurels. However, the movie delivers comedically, romantically and quite literally packs a punch with its slick action sequences. The cinematography and soundtrack are a feast for the eyes, and the movie is filmed in Sydney, securing it more kudos in the eyes of this film critic.
The Fall Guy begins with stunt man Colt, (Ryan Gosling), living an enviable life. He has a major crush on aspiring director Jody, (Emily Blunt), and she certainly doesn’t seem indifferent to his advances. Though not the main star, Colt seems to lead a charmed existence. He’s roguishly handsome, gets to work on glamorous films, and, while not surrounded by women, seems to have won the affections of the girl of his dreams. He is Ken, after all! Sorry, I’ll leave the Barbie jokes now. And perhaps it’s for the best, as things start to unravel for Colt when he suffers a major blow to his confidence. He then spends a good chunk of time moping, as muscled lead men in films with damaged bravado are apt to do.
But a film about moping wouldn’t make for great cinema, and it’s not long before Colt is ‘back in the saddle’, so to speak, attempting to regain control of his now much more tenuous life. What follows, is a funny, silly, lovely, and action-packed jaunt, where Colt begins to realise that playing the main man like Tom Ryder, (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And while Colt might not be about to break out and adopt the lead role of the films he provides stunts for, he can certainly become the main man in his own life again.
The Fall Guy is roguishly endearing, endlessly entertaining, and even includes an adorable dog, Jean Claude, who only responds to commands in French in the movie. It reminds us we should refuse to ride shotgun in the stories of our lives, and, for that alone, it’s worth the ticket price. Well, that and the super cute canine. Sorry, Ryan!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Though he is Ken, and anywhere else he’d be a ten.) Thanks to my friend Andi for inviting me, (@fashionaddictedpanda_), and Universal Pictures Australia for having us.
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