As the stuntman, Ryan Gosling can sure take a hit.
When TV-to-movie transitions go wrong (“The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Wild Wild West,” “Baywatch,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” etc.), they can get degrading. But when they go right (“21 Jump Street,” “The Fugitive,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “Get Smart,” etc.), then they can really adjust to the times.
“The Fall Guy” is taken from the Lee Majors series from the 80s, which a friend of mine said not many people remember, and somebody was a probably looking through the TV Guide for movie ideas. That was basically Richard Roper’s reaction when he voted “The Dukes of Hazzard” as the worst movie of 2005.
But that’s not the case with “The Fall Guy,” which is the latest TV-to-movie job to go right, especially when Ryan Gosling, who was last seen in “Barbie,” is continuing to prove to us that he can be as a hilarious as he is serious. And it’s also a movie that loves the satirize the world of stuntmen without insulting the series or anyone behind the scenes.
Gosling plays stuntman Colt Seavers, who takes the fall for the Matthew McConaughey-type action hero Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), has a crush on the camera operator Jodie Moreno (Emily Blunt), and survives an accident that transitions him as a Mexican restaurant valet.
He’s called back in the game, when Tom’s producer Gail (Hannah Waddingham from “Ted Lasso”) invites him to Australia for the directorial debut of Jodie, who is still struggling to get over their breakup.
“Metalstorm” is the movie they’re making is a Sci-Fi western with echos from “Dune” and “Mad Max.” You have the car chases, sandy environment, battles, and aliens in the mix. And it could enter “Galaxy Quest” territory, as long as Colt adds levity in the mix off camera. But he wants to be serious when he gives the director advice on the character’s choices in life.
The real reason why Gail invited him to Australia, is because Tom is missing, she doesn’t want Jodie to know about it yet, and she needs his help in finding him. And without giving anything away, Tom has been involved with dangerous men, and now, they’re after Colt. But being a stuntman with a comedic approach, he manages to fight back. He’s the better version of how Chris Evans got roped into the spy genre in last year’s “Ghosted.”
In the genre of an actor or in this case a stuntman, I was reminded of “Tropic Thunder,” which was about actors being placed in a real life war movie. Colt is now in a real action movie, and he takes over for the actor. I’ve already delivered by praises to Gosling, but credit must also go to Blunt, who has her conflicts but has more of an exuberant approach than an irritable approach. Yes, it gets typical in their reunion as the girl is mad at the boy, but it doesn’t have to be on reruns for the rest of the film. In fact, Gosling and Blunt both thrive in their romantic chemistry.
I guess the movie doesn’t want to be indulged in what James Gunn would refer to as “cameo porn,” so you don’t get Ryan Reynolds or Tom Cruise in the mix. But you do get the original “Fall Guy” stars Lee Majors and Heather Thomas, as well as room for Winston Duke as Colt’s best friend and stunt coordinator, Stephanie Hsu as Tom’s personal assistant, Teresa Palmer as Tom’s girlfriend and co-star, and one of the funniest cameos I have ever seen. And it is directed by David Leitch and written by Drew Pearce, who both seem to get a kick out off the pyrotechnics, special effects, and the stunt people, who risk their lives so the actors don’t have to risk their lives. And plus, it shares its passion for KISS’ “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.”
