We might sound like broken records talking about The Fall Guy at this point, but it’s a film worthy of loads of praise. It’s a film worth watching, no matter who the viewer is and how much they care for movies. It’s a universal gem with a perfect cast, an exceptional vision, and the kind of joy many of us need to experience from the media we consume.
1. The Fall Guy Features a Perfect Romance
If there’s one thing that’s legitimately perfect in The Fall Guy, it’s the representation of the romance genre. The love story viewers get between Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) and Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt) is the kind of second-chance romance dreams are made of.
There’s no cheating or gaslighting involved; instead, it consists of a misunderstanding that works to showcase what happens when someone shuts down after a traumatic event. The end result of their relationship is a gorgeous happy ending, featuring adorable performances from Blunt and Gosling that consistently put their relationship at the film’s forefront. The banter, the tension, the longing and the heated chemistry make the relationship an absolute treat to watch.
2. The Performances
Gosling and Blunt are unstoppable in The Fall Guy, but it also features our ethereal queen, Hannah Waddingham, in a role as you’ve never seen her before. Waddingham’s range is incredible, but how she marries comedy and mischievousness in this film is no small feat.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is as charmingly chaotic as ever, and Winston Duke is an absolute delight through and through. For a relatively light-hearted film, the stars put on the type of performance brimming with a ton of care to drive the story forward and add nuanced depth.
3. It Features Underrated Film Representation
The average filmgoer rarely thinks about who’s pulling the weight and bringing their favorite movies to life. We see Daniel Craig’s face as the notable MI6 agent, James Bond, but very few people leave the theater wondering who they should thank for the incredible stunts. This notion is the same for almost every film and TV show, whether high-octane action or something as seemingly simple as a dance.
The Fall Guy is a brilliant love letter to the stunt community, and it places them centerfold, directed by a creative who’s walked in their shoes. With this in mind, there’s no denying that this is director David Leitch’s best work to date, and it’s because he’s unapologetically and brightly honoring the people who deserve far more credit in bringing some of the most enjoyable scenes to life.
4. It’s Well Written and Directed
Between the writing and the directing, the film is an A+ gem in delivering a subtle and engaging narrative that keeps the audience glued to their screen. It’s rare for a film to attract all audience members with differing tastes, but the universal joy and clever writing make The Fall Guy a unique exception in marrying various genres to create a love letter to filmmaking that’ll grow more beloved with time.
5. The Action Sequences Are Fantastic
The Fall Guy features some of the most enthralling and engaging action sequences to date, connected with astute humor and spectacular characterizations. Of course, that’d be the case. But it’s a fantastic showcase of how action sequences in a film enhance the plot and look great, too.
Sometimes, it’s one or the other—there’s something people will always complain about, yet in this film, the action is simply perfect. As the youths say, no notes. None. The action sequences are thoughtful, necessary, and brilliantly compelling to honor both the stunt community and films in general. The pacing is astounding, and the quiet beats of character building that happen amid everything make the film worthy of multiple rewatches.
The Fall Guy is now available for purchase and still playing in select theaters.
First Featured Image | Official Poster Credit: ©Universal Pictures