The Fall Guy could've been great, it could've been a contender! But it ends up being a showcase of Ryan Gosling's undeniable charm; and not much else.
Following Gosling’s success as Ken in Barbie, everyone had high hopes for The Fall Guy. It’s got action, it’s got comedy, it revolves around a love story and it has actors with proven onscreen success. So, why is it so underwhelming? Let me explain.
First off, it’s not all bad. It starts with ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’ by KISS pumping over an edit of some popular stunts from action movies. The vibe is great! Ryan Gosling shows up as Colt, a stuntman for superstar Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Colt is amped up; he is at the top of his game and he gets to work with his girlfriend/love-of-his-life Jody (Emily Blunt).
But the stunt turns into an epic fail and Colt breaks his back. The traumatic event sends Colt into hiding until he is called back 18 months later on the set of a new movie by producer Gail (Hannah Waddingham, wasted behind big eyeglasses and a wig). His back has healed, but he is still dealing with the mixed emotions around the accident. And he is also nervous to see Jody, who’s the movie’s director. As he’s trying to reignite the sparks with Jody, Gail sends him off on a mission to find Tom Ryder, who goes missing.
This sets Colt off on a course where both, love and life, are at stake. The main problem is that the script is weak. The movie has one of those twists that can be seen from a mile away. While the movie is predictable, the supporting characters lack substance too. The script doesn’t give Stephanie Hsu and Teresa Palmer much to work with, while Winston Duke plays the tired trope of the hero’s buddy.
This leaves us with the leads. Emily Blunt had more to do in a supporting role in The Devil Wears Prada (The Devil Wears Prada review) than she has here. It’s not her fault. Jody just isn’t that memorable. As Colt, Gosling plays a character who’s a cross between his roles from The Nice Guys and Drive. The makers have relied a lot on Gosling’s current fame and his natural charisma. And he delivers. He is one of maybe, two reasons the movie is entertaining (the other reason is the witty dialogue). But, the chemistry between Blunt and Gosling here, sadly, fails to excite.
Tom Ryder is a Tom Cruise-type but younger and with greater arrogance and self-importance. It’s a fun role and Taylor-Johnson is enjoyable in it. Much of the film’s humour comes from his performance, proving that good actors can be funny too.
David Leitch, the ex-stunt coordinator who directed The Fall Guy, disappoints the most. In 2024, after witnessing such great stuntwork like in the John Wick movies or the Mad Max movies, the expectation from a movie based on a stuntman was higher. Leitch has utilised a few long takes in the movie, but the action sequences are filled with disjointed cuts. In a key sequence halfway through the film, Gosling is chasing the bad guys down and fights them while in a garbage truck. It could have been exciting but the scene was intercut with a scene of Jody and Gail talking about Colt’s absence from their karaoke event. Similarly, the rest of the action is mundane too.
Overall the movie has a few good ideas. It makes you laugh. The third act is cool. It can be enjoyed in the cinemas with the whole family. But, it lacks the desired magic or exhilaration; and delivers an average movie-viewing experience.
Colt – inner monologue ‘What’s that saying?, ‘Pride comes before the fall’? Well, they don’t mention it sticks around afterwards, too.’