After nearly a full year of being front and center in the media spotlight thanks to his miraculous turn as Ken in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” Ryan Gosling returns to the big screen in a post-‘Barbenheimer’ world with David Leitch’s “The Fall Guy.” The first tentpole blockbuster of the 2024 summer movie season (which promises to be an interesting one, given the sheer amount of stuff that has been moved off of the calendar in the aftermath of the historic strikes which shook the industry over the course of the past year), “The Fall Guy” is a big old-fashioned action spectacular.
In a filmmaking world where digital technology continues to ruthlessly reinvent the industry before our very eyes, with everything from computer-generated imagery to the steadily increasing implementation of A.I., “The Fall Guy” finds joy in the analog. The biggest thrills of “The Fall Guy” are not CGI cutscenes, but rather the vintage Hollywood thrills of real stunt performers at work doing large-scale stunts, palpable on-screen romantic chemistry between an incredible cast of actors, and the meteoric charm and charisma of a bona fide movie star in the form of Ryan Gosling.
TOP FIVE THINGS ABOUT “THE FALL GUY”
5. DAVID LEITCH’S FINEST WORK
After spending the better part of multiple decades working as a stunt performer in the industry, over the course of the last decade, David Leitch has risen through the ranks as a director whose body of work speaks for itself. From co-directing the first “John Wick” to spearheading solo directorial efforts such as “Atomic Blonde,” “Deadpool 2,” and “Bullet Train,” Leitch has very much established a tone and sensibility all his own. One of the real delights of Leitch’s work is that he is distinctly old-school, both in terms of stunt-work and in terms of star-power. From those four previously mentioned credits alone, one can see that Leitch has teamed with stars like Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, Ryan Reynolds, and Brad Pitt. In each case, the film that surrounds the star feels specifically tailored to fit their greatest strengths, just as much as it adheres to Leitch’s own stylized sensibilities.
“The Fall Guy” is absolutely no exception to this rule, with one of the most infectiously fun things about it being just how much it feels hand-crafted to service Ryan Gosling as a marquee movie star. For as much as I have enjoyed Leitch’s previous work, “The Fall Guy” feels like a notable step-up in just about every department for Leitch as a filmmaker. In making a love letter to the stunt community that he has been such an invaluable part of for so long now, Leitch has delivered both his funniest and most sincere work yet, and it comes through in spades. Leitch’s films have always had a penchant for metaphorically slicing through the pastiche of the filmmaking process to speak directly to the audience, and “The Fall Guy” takes this to deliriously literal new heights, in ways that are both hysterical and affecting. “The Fall Guy” is simultaneously quintessentially of Leitch’s canon and a new high-water mark for it.
4. THE METATEXT
“The Fall Guy” is a movie about movies, made by people who love movies, for people who love movies. In the least derogatory of ways, there are parts of this film that feel equivalent to riding on the Universal Studios Backlot Tour: a journey through a heightened version of the moviemaking process, with sizzle to spare, that rewards avid movie fans in ways big and small along the way. Leitch and screenwriter Drew Pearce really do get to have their cake and eat it too here, as the film functions as an entirely insular work unto itself, without any prior knowledge of the stunt community, action film history, or the 1980s television series from which the film gets its name. But in addition to that, audience members who are more familiar with these elements are consistently rewarded for it with in-jokes and insight. Winston Duke’s character is a stunt coordinator who speaks almost exclusively in movie quotes, and in anyone else’s hands, that could get annoying incredibly fast. But here, between Duke’s effervescent charisma and the film’s own uniquely suited tone, it feels rewarding.
Simultaneously, the film’s longest-running joke is that the movie star at the center of its story (played with scenery-chewing glee by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, in one of his best performances in years) is a pointed and deliberate commentary on a very specific lead actor, whose PR and marketing tactics from across the past several decades have set a dangerous precedent that many others have followed, putting actors in direct opposition to the stunt workers who make them look so good onscreen. It’s not only funny but also cohesive and satisfying within the context of the film as a whole, allowing Leitch and co. to craft a work that feels even larger than it is.
3. CLASSICAL ROMANTIC CHEMISTRY
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are both wonderful in this film and exhibit authentic, palpable chemistry together on screen. In many ways, their dynamic feels deliberately reminiscent of old-school blockbusters, evoking classics like Michael Curtiz’s “Captain Blood,” Steven Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and Stephen Sommers’ “The Mummy.” While romance has always been a staple of blockbuster filmmaking, “The Fall Guy” goes beyond mere story beats to genuinely explore the complexities of romantic relationships, a refreshing departure from more superficial portrayals.
2. THE ACTION SETPIECES
“For a movie centered on stunts and the people who perform them, ‘The Fall Guy’ delivers some exceptionally fun, imaginative, and satisfying action set pieces. What’s even more impressive is how the film’s central premise effectively engages us in even the smallest-scale stunts, a feat not often achieved in other films. What might be a brief moment in a Marvel movie becomes a full fifteen-minute sequence here, allowing the audience to grasp the stakes of the stunt fully. This deliberate approach enhances our investment in the stunts, the stunt community, and the characters themselves.”
The opening long take of Gosling preparing and executing one of his signature “falls” is a prime illustration of this approach. By investing deeply in character, emotion, and performance, the stunts become all the more impactful and resonant. Additionally, the truck chase sequence in the second act stands out as a moment of gleeful abandon, where Leitch and his team seem to have been given free rein with a substantial budget to concoct some of the most imaginative and over-the-top stunt work imaginable.
1. RYAN GOSLING IS PERFECTION
Ryan Gosling truly shines in “The Fall Guy.” It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the lead role bringing the same level of charm and depth to the character. While the film itself may be entertaining, Gosling elevates it with his A++ performance. His portrayal is funny, endearing, and surprisingly emotionally resonant. As someone who has long appreciated Gosling’s talent, seeing him flex his physical comedy skills in a major film like this is incredibly rewarding.
Also, there’s a line about glucose that Gosling delivers that made me laugh embarrassingly hard in the theater.
RGM GRADE
(B+)
In summary, “The Fall Guy” offers an infectiously joyous experience at the theater. It pays homage to the stunt community, old-fashioned blockbusters, and the art of cinema overall. Despite some moments that may have felt a bit overstretched, I found it to be a highly rewarding viewing experience, particularly as it progressed into the third act. The film effectively kept me engaged with its characters and made excellent use of its impressive ensemble cast, all while delivering impactful large-scale spectacle. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable film.
