The Fall Guy
First screened and reviewed in June 2024
Director: David Leitch. Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Hannah Waddingham, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke, Stephanie Hsu, Zara Michales, Teresa Palmer, Ben Knight, Matuse, Justin Eaton, J–––– M––––. Screenplay: Drew Pearce (based on television characters created by Glen A. Larson).VOR:②
Thank God and thank Gosling for early-June comic diversion, but I'd expected to extend more credit to genre-splicing and action choreography.
I tried to cosplay at this movie via my beverage of choice, and I think Peach Mello Yello basically nailed it. I.e., the movie can't be accused of false advertising, and it's nothing but sugar... which is a fun throwback to simple, childlike pleasures for a decent while, but after merrily sipping for about an hour or so, you do start to really question things.
I do enjoy watching Gosling keep a comic balloon in the air with whatever tools he can draw on, even at the edge of ham. He's also very good at half-sincere, half-spoofy hangdog male energy. Blunt has less than half as much to do and, I'm sorry to report, does it about half as well. Supporting players are either underutilized (Hsu) or slightly tiresome (Waddingham) or both (Taylor-Johnson). The strangest thing is that the action/stunt choreography isn't half as sharp as I'd anticipated? Feels like Leitch was really trying to prove himself on character and comedy, neither of which are his strong suits, but then slightly whiffed on the better cards in his hand. I'm not going to say The Fall Guy isn't fun, and there's a perfect Taylor Swift drop at an ideal moment, but I'm definitely surprised it's not more fun and, based largely on Atomic Blonde, that it's not better made. I'm posting this before I talk myself into dropping the grade further. Grade:C+
