The Fall Guy (Film Review)

After a turbulent few months for the film industry, where SAG-AFTRA were striking to protect themselves against the use of AI and the art of practical filmmaking was something of a dying breed, the timing of David Leitch's The Fall Guy couldn't be better – a love letter not only to the unsung work of stunt crews but to good, old-fashioned Hollywood filmmaking as a whole.

Based on the 1980s series of the same name, our Fall Guy in question is stuntman extraordinaire Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling). He doubles for Hollywood A-lister Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and is head-over-heels for camera operator Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), however, their plans of escaping to a beach and sipping margaritas in the sun go awry when a stunt leaves Colt retreating into himself with a broken back and a bruised ego.

18 months later, Seavers is given another go at the movie business when producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) needs an ace fall guy for cosmic romance ‘Metalstorm'. It just so happens to also be Jody's big break as a director. Another issue quickly arises for Seavers when Ryder goes missing, threatening to derail the whole production. So in an effort to rekindle his romance with Jody by saving her film, Colt plays hero and sets out after Ryder but finds himself caught up in something far more dangerous than he ever anticipated.

Leitch himself is a former stuntman and it shows in how lovingly this film pays homage to the immense work of stunt teams. The Fall Guy utilises everything in the action playbook from bombastic car and boat chases to pyrotechnics, trained dogs, taut hand-to-hand combat, and even a 250-foot drop but the set-pieces are all so cleverly constructed and executed with such deft precision that it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer craftsmanship on display. The script doesn't ever reinvent the wheel but, instead, offers a chance to flex the muscular efforts of stuntwork while also poking fun at the irreverence of the movie-making machine.

But so much of the film works due to the excellent turns from Gosling and Blunt whose sizzling chemistry lights up every scene they're in together. They're a joy to watch as they riff, banter and bicker and they pull off the romantic tension with such conviction. Gosling, in particular, continues to show off his impressive comedic chops following the likes of The Nice Guys and last year's Barbie while Blunt looks like she's having some of the most fun of her career. And their commitment to the stunts brings a great sense of practicality to the proceedings too. As an actioner, it's cool but it's even better when it's firing on the romantic cylinders.

It's fizzy, heartfelt fun without ever being too quirky; it's romantic without feeling cloying; it's a pastiche that feels genuinely earnest. Leitch's latest is a fitting celebration of the men and women who risk life and limb for our entertainment, it's a film that plays to the strength of its crew and its stars and, in doing so, makes for one of the most entertaining films of the year. If ever there was a more prominent argument that stunts are overdue their recognition on an awards level, this is asbolutely it. Summer 2024 is looking stacked with exciting blockbusters and The Fall Guy has set the bar high – this is an old-fashioned romp that's as good as they come.

The Fall Guy is in UK cinemas from May 2nd, 2024.