The Writings of John Ryan Sullivan

Typically I write about older films in this category but in the case of the Fall Guy I am making an exception. Why? Because for some reason this film (supposedly) did not find an audience last year, which is absurd. So here I am trying to shine a little light on a wonderful movie.

What you should know

The Fall Guy is not a remake of the television show (which admit it, you had not heard of when the film came out) but the main character does have the same name as the character from the show (Colt Seavers). And the two actors from the television show have cameos in the movie. There, that’s out of the way.

The premise of the film is somewhat straightforward – a stuntman who has left the filmmaking world is called back in to find a missing movie star he used to double for. Which kinda makes sense if you aren’t thinking too hard, which is how you should approach the film.

I don’t mean that as a slight, just that this is mean to be a light-hearted romp in the world of making movies and doing stunts. If you approach The Fall Guy with a smirk and wanting to be entertained you will.

Why you should reconsider

It’s possible that people did not see the trailer for The Fall Guy and therefore did not understand this was an action comedy featuring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Both of whom have starred in comedies and action films and comedy action films (at least Mr. Gosling has) before and done quite well in these areas.

Ryan Gosling gets to do, in my humble opinion, what he does best in The Fall Guy: be goofy and not so clever while coming across as goodnatured and likable. His character isn’t articulate but unlike his collaborations with Nicolas Winding Refn he’s not trying for the near-mute stoic honorable thug either.

So our main character is a likable stuntman who we meet while stealing kisses from Emily Blunt’s character, Jodi, in a trailer on a movie set. Jodi is the camera operator on the movie and while neither Jodi or Colt is announcing their relationship the both are, badly, trying to keep it under wraps.

Quickly we have a near fatal accident occur and we learn that Colt has stepped away from the world of stunts because of his deep shame for having failed so hard (especially in front of Jodi).

So sweeping aside this being a somewhat bizarre reason to never go back to work and the even more bizarre reason to stop communicating with the woman you love (men are a mystery) we now have our hero alone, parking cars for a living and generally being a sad sack.

Those of you who shunned this film should reconsider watching it because: 1) at it’s heart it is a love story and 2) Both Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling get to have a lot of fun with their roles while 3) doing and showcasing amazing stunts in the process of 4) making a film and showing the audience all of the bizarre and surreal things that go into that.

Four points, one long sentence and I think, my point made.

Misconceptions

I’m hard pressed to come up with what they could be about this film. Everything I saw promoting the movie conveyed the tone, which is playful and the general story being told. There are a number of well known actors playing secondary roles and perhaps that confused some potential viewers.

The film is structured a bit like a detective story, in that Hannah Waddingham’s character, Gail, “hires” colt to find the missing star of Metalstorm in order to save the production. It’s possible people did not understand that this plotline of the film, stuntman tries to find missing actor, is not the central plotline of the film.

Which is, of course, about these two goobers and if they will end up together.

Of the many things that are fantastic about The Fall Guy (and there truly are so many) what I enjoyed most was the assured telling of the story. Some films you have a hard time figuring out, sometimes because they are meant to be confusing (looking at you Mr. Nolan) and sometimes because the people making the film don’t understand what story is being told.

This is not the case with The Fall Guy and while there are many wonderful detours and asides the heart of the film is established in the first minute and never wavers.

I think The Fall Guy is the best movie I watched in 2024 as it ticked off so many boxes in my “what I want from a movie” checklist. An interesting story is told with style and the actors are a joy to watch. I was surprised and I was entertained and the ending is fulfilling. Which reminds me, if you watch The Fall Guy make sure to stay for the post credits sequence as it is wonderful.