- Date of Release: 03 May 2024
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
- Language: English
- Watch On: Theatres Only
The Fall Guy
Introduction
Cinema on Cinema has got to be one of my favourite genres! And if the film is based on some of the unsung heroes of cinema, I am absolutely game! It was recently that I had stumbled on the trailer of the new English film The Fall Guy, what supposedly seemed like a film on a stuntman who gets embroiled in a bit of a pickle! Almost immediately, I did take a liking for the film given its concept, and also an exceedingly good looking cast in the form of Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. On digging a bit deeper, I did get to know that the film was directed by David Leitch, a proven filmmaker who had proven his directorial chops with films like Bullet Train and the Deadpool franchise. One glance at the films and you would know the brand of humour that he would usually cater to, heavy infused with some stylized action sequences. And in that regard, The Fall Guy had everything going for it in what seemed like a true blue meta popcorn movie on a movie! So then does The Fall Guy manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
The Fall Guy follows the story of a stuntman returning from an injury who is tasked with locating the missing star in order to complete his film, only to be embroiled in a pickle himself. What happens next and would the romance with his director see the light of the day? The story here is a pulpy popcorn entertainer that in parts provides a heartfelt tribute to the unsung heroes of cinema(the stuntmen in this case) while also providing a hilarious commentary on their plight, something that unfolds as an undercurrent. Yet on the face of it, this is a popcorn entertainer that defies logic wherein you don’t quite question the events of the film but instead, lay back and enjoy the meta references in the drama(which are aplenty). The screenplay standing at a shade above 120 minutes is entertaining and enjoyable albeit with a few lags that creep up along the way in the second hour. But what continues to drive the narrative is the brand of comedy backed by a brilliant Ryan Gosling!
The drama begins on a film set wherein the crew has just finished shooting an extravagant action sequence for a big budget sci-fi film. At the helm of things is our protagonist who works as a stuntman and has a secret affair with the director of the film. And as much as their relationship continues to be hush hush and professional, the thankless job of a stuntman comes to the fore wherein he is asked to re-do a stunt given that the main lead of the film isn’t entirely satisfied. What seemed like a regular day in the office for the protagonist, soon turns disastrous when he meets with a near fatal accident. After an 18 month hiatus when he is coaxed back on the set, seldom does he know that he is about to be embroiled in a bit of a pickle!
The proceedings are straight up entertaining with the brand of comedy that the writers cater to. It is most definitely popcorn stuff wherein the writing is extremely self aware of what it is intending to convey, without trying to overtly be intellectual in any manner. As a result, you are privy to some back and forth banter between the protagonist Colt and Jody, the director of the film even as you continue to be a silent spectator on their film set. There is definitely a spark between the two even as the banter ranges from being frivolous to traces of being serious. The main conflict in the screenplay begins when the protagonist is tasked with finding out the star of the film, who has suddenly disappeared, something that branches the story outside the film set into the big bad streets of Sydney. This includes a hilarious sequence featuring the protagonist being high after consuming a substance, only to find a body at the hotel, signalling the kind of pickle that he has got himself into. Yet, the humour and the meta-references that are sprinkled along the way never allow the drama to get heavy, while playing perfect foil to quite a few laughs along the way.
There are most definitely a few lags in the second half wherein the story does take a few cliched turns to try and keep the mystery alive, only to end up being unnecessarily convoluted from a writing perspective. But what keeps you going is a breathtaking chase sequence infused with bits of comedy that doesn’t quite allow the narrative to be bogged down. The mystery in itself is weak and so when it is revealed, you aren’t exactly shocked by the revelation. But the real fun begins after that in the events leading up to the final act that are entirely staged on a film set. The humour is infectious and you will find yourself chuckling and laughing frequently, even as the adrenaline ensures for a pulsating final act. This is where the genre cinema on cinema truly takes centerstage, and it is brilliant to witness. And don’t forget to sit through the end credits post which there is an ultra hilarious scene in store! Overall, the screenplay is intended to entertain and it does exactly that!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are witty, filled with meta references and a brand of humour that is most definitely appealing. The lines also have an underlying commentary on the plight of the stuntmen and how even the Acadrmy Awards refuse to give them recognition. The music is good but even better is the BGM that gels well with the pulsating vibe of the drama. The cinematography is excellent, often switching frames that differentiate from the reel and real world. Yet, the action and combat sequences are well shot with a tinge of humour that is perfectly in sync with the vibe of the film. The editing is decent here although a few lags in the second hour ought to have been taken care of. Director David Leitch yet again proves his mettle with the brand of cinema that he was catering to here, a mix of comedy and action to keep you invested throughout. To add to it, the setting that he chose was of cinema on cinema, while briefly providing a nice little homage to the unsung heroes of cinema, most of whom endanger their lives in order to provide entertainment to the viewers. The direction was superb here.
Performances
The performances are excellent by the entire cast here. Winston Duke as Dan and Stephanie Hsu as Alma have their moments to shine, particularly the former who excels in comedy too. Hannah Waddingham as Gail has an interesting character who can be termed as an opportunist in many ways and she does a good job here! Aaron Taylor-Johns as Tom is pretty mad and he nails his comedy with his body language and his over the top antics. Emily Blunt as Jody looks so pretty and graces the drama with her superb performance. Her subtle bouts of humour are pitch perfect, something that enhances her character even further. Ryan Gosling as Colt is the star of the show. Rarely do you see an actor nailing both action and comedy in equal measures, and he does exactly that, excelling in combat sequences and nailing his one-liners. Together Ryan and Emily share crackling chemistry that does compensate for the half-baked love angle at the script level.
Conclusion
The Fall Guy is a pulpy meta popcorn movie on a movie with charming performances that is thoroughly entertaining and makes for a fun filled outing at the cinemas! Available at a theatre near you from Friday, 3rd May’24.
