THE FALL GUY | Review
Does Ken have what it takes to survive the fall?
As an easily accessible movie about making movies, Leitch’s direction in The Fall Guy sways only a few votes for me. It’s light-hearted, fun, and satirical, all while attempting to pay homage to the unseen superheroes behind big-budget movies—you know, the ones about your past love in the form of a Western space alien invasion.
My issues arise within its subtext, with the majority of the publicity bringing stunt workers to the forefront, but I never get that sentiment in the film. It feels like it’s trying at times to be this bigger message for them, but it only subtly gives our protagonist a thumbs up and writes it off as being “just what they do.” Regardless if that’s the point, does this change how we view them? I feel it plays into that fact and doubles down when it doesn’t get what it’s trying to do, i.e. leaning into the romance when it doesn’t have enough juice. It’s sad because all of the cast have great chemistry together. The script just isn’t strong enough to ever evolve past the surface.
The work on the sets is a higher point for me, mostly towards the latter portion of the runtime. Movies about making movies generally give us a glimpse into the many jobs that are within this industry; whether it dives deep into specific occupations or shows the scope of production, the stuntman always feels like something in uncharted territory. They’re essential but written off constantly. Ryan Gosling has his moments here, reminding me of a spin off to Ryan Reynolds and the Deadpool humor. Emily Blunt’s character is a shell of an up-and-coming director turning an absolute piece of shit into a film. It’s supposed to be this life-changing film for younger audiences, or at least that’s what Colt says in his long-winded monologue to bring her morale up. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Actually, it’s a joke inside itself, giving the audience even more aimless satire to naw on without any real importance. Without the extremities, the humor is cheap, being a dog-bites-man-in-balls, haha, kind of funny. I can write off Aaron Taylor Johnson as a higher-level actor than Gosling for the sake of good plot and character development. Sadly, these characters don't do anything of value. We never get a clear motive or direction for why this is all important or lifts up stunt men and women.
As a satirical, it just gets too ridiculous to bring me back to care at all about anything it has to say when it all feels so pointless in the end. It’s the happy ending Jody didn’t want in the first place. Frankly, I didn’t want it either. It’s fun and witty at times, but I cannot get behind it in conversation against other highly touted action films. It just does not compare.
Even though it’s light, its lack of investment into actual storytelling leaves me crowning it forgettable.
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