The Unsung Heroes of Hollywood: A Review of THE FALL GUY
As I sat down to watch THE FALL GUY, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Would it be an action-packed thrill ride or a heartfelt drama? What I got was something entirely different – a love letter to the stunt professionals who make Hollywood magic happen.
“Stunt professionals are the unsung heroes of Hollywood.” - David Leitch, Director of THE FALL GUY
THE FALL GUY introduces us to Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), a top Hollywood stuntman who’s had a good career, even before the last six years, during which he’s been the primary stunt double for worldwide superstar Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Colt’s life is turned upside down when a fall gone wrong breaks his back, forcing him to take a break from the industry and his romance with camera operator Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt).
Colt Seavers, the stuntman with a heart of gold
As Colt heals physically over eighteen months, he disconnects from both showbiz and Jody. But when Tom’s producing partner Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) tracks Colt down, he’s forced back into the world he left behind. Gail insists that Colt is the only person who can possibly double Tom on his new movie shooting in Australia, an interstellar epic romance titled METALSTORM. When Colt turns Gail down, she reveals that this is Jody’s directorial debut. Colt can’t say no to that.
The film is a masterclass in stunt work, with director David Leitch, writer Drew Pearce, and the stunt crew, headed by stunt designer-coordinator-second unit director Chris O’Hara and stunt coordinator Keir Beck, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the art of stunt-making. We hear about pick points, roll cages, mouth guards, and more. They also get in some heartfelt licks in about actors who insist that they do all their own stunts, producers who can’t tell one stunt person from another, and the fact that there’s no Oscar for stunts.
 The unsung heroes of Hollywood
Not until these folks are good and ready do we get to the plot. It seems that Tom has gone missing. Fearing that the studio will pull the plug if they learn their leading man has vanished, Gail persuades Colt to go in search of Tom. But Colt has a bigger priority – winning back Jody, who was truly hurt when he withdrew from her.
Gosling and Blunt are both charming and personable, making it easy to root for their characters to reunite. Gosling generates the kind of aw-shucks modesty that many stunt performers display. Taylor-Johnson is fine as the wide-eyed, self-justifying egomaniacal star, and Waddingham makes Gail seem like many relentless show-must-go-on producers in real life.
The dialogue is pleasingly snappy, and the storyline makes sense within the parameters of what we’re seeing (suspension of disbelief becomes a given at a certain point). Perhaps the biggest stumbling block to credibility is the notion that everybody thinks METALSTORM is a surefire hit, since it looks pretty terrible. (For starters, the alien love interest looks like a regular human, while her fellow aliens look wholly extraterrestrial.) Still, there are plenty of good gags mined from the alien costumes and props.
As to the stunts, both those being done on behalf of METALSTORM and those that are part of the narrative, they consistently impress. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes footage during the end credits showing how these were achieved, as well as respectful showcasing of Gosling’s stunt doubles: Logan Holladay for driving, Troy Brown for high falls, and Ben Jenkin and Justin Eaton for fights and other dangerous moves. It’s all visually exciting and hugely enjoyable.
 The making of THE FALL GUY
We come away from THE FALL GUY with a greater appreciation of the stunt community, especially because – as headed up by Leitch – they’ve just shown us such a good time here.
Grade: B+
