I watched The Fall Guy and I liked it. 3.5/5
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Review: The Fall Guy (2024) – 3.5/5
The Fall Guy is a fun, surprisingly stylish throwback to 80s action-comedy with a meta twist on the “stuntman turned hero” trope. It’s big, it’s bold, and it knows exactly what it wants to be—a fast-paced, crowd-pleasing rollercoaster that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Even though it’s not breaking any new ground, the film’s self-aware humor, slick action scenes, and charismatic performances make it a blast, even if it’s not exactly reinventing the wheel.
The premise is straightforward but perfectly suited to its playful tone. We follow Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), a washed-up stuntman who gets reluctantly pulled back into the action when his ex-girlfriend and former co-star (Emily Blunt) needs him to find her missing, reckless Hollywood leading man. This setup lets the movie dip into all the classic action tropes: car chases, explosions, and plenty of behind-the-scenes Hollywood chaos. But what sets The Fall Guy apart from being just another action-comedy is the way it leans into the absurdity of its premise. You’ve got a stuntman forced to play hero in real life, complete with all the awkwardness and unglamorous injuries that come with it. It’s a fun concept that the film fully embraces.
Ryan Gosling is in peak “everyman with a little swagger” mode here, and it works. His dry, somewhat reluctant humor brings a fresh twist to Colt, making him both likable and relatable. Gosling’s knack for subtle comedy shines in this role; he plays Colt as a guy who’s kind of done with all the Hollywood glam but can’t help getting pulled back into the spotlight. Opposite him, Emily Blunt brings a nice balance of sass and heart as the love interest who, thankfully, is given more depth than just being a damsel in distress. Their chemistry is charming—sometimes sweet, sometimes a little prickly—and their banter helps keep the pace lively, even when the plot starts to meander a bit in the middle.
Speaking of the plot, The Fall Guy isn’t exactly a tightly woven story, but it doesn’t have to be. The film gets by on sheer charisma and its quirky meta-narrative, poking fun at Hollywood excess and action hero cliches while still celebrating them. Director David Leitch, known for his work on Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2, knows how to make action look cool without losing the humor, and he brings that same energy here. The stunts are impressive, with a mix of practical effects and that “dangerously close to real” feel that gives the action a bit more punch. You can tell the filmmakers had fun with the action sequences, and it shows. But even in its most intense scenes, there’s always a wink to the audience that lets you know this film is in on the joke.
One of the best parts of The Fall Guy is its commentary on Hollywood’s obsession with spectacle. From exaggerated director tantrums to the absurd risks that stunt crews are expected to take, the film is peppered with jokes and nods to the often-overlooked world of movie-making. It’s like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, if Tarantino’s style got crossed with a buddy-action comedy. There are even moments that feel like inside jokes, poking at the ridiculousness of the industry without getting too cynical. The satire is light-hearted and never bitter, which keeps the tone upbeat and fun, even when the jokes hit a little close to home.
On the downside, The Fall Guy has some pacing issues. The middle stretch of the movie feels a bit stretched, almost like the filmmakers weren’t sure how to keep up the energy between the big set pieces. There’s also a sense that the movie doesn’t quite know when to rein it in; it’s high-octane and over-the-top, but sometimes it teeters on the edge of losing its own sense of stakes. There are only so many times you can watch a stuntman dodge death before it starts to feel like he’s invincible, and while that’s part of the fun, it does start to wear thin after a while.
Still, the film largely succeeds because it knows exactly what it’s selling—a good time. If you’re willing to go along for the ride, The Fall Guy will give you everything you’d expect from a Hollywood action-comedy, with just a bit of extra charm. It’s a movie that’s meant to be enjoyed for what it is, and that’s a refreshing thing in a world where so many blockbusters are weighed down by franchise setups or overly serious plots.
In the end, The Fall Guy is the kind of movie that delivers pure, popcorn-munching entertainment. It’s not going to redefine the genre, but it’s not trying to. Instead, it’s a love letter to classic stunts and a good-natured ribbing of Hollywood’s own spectacle-obsessed culture. With Gosling and Blunt carrying the weight with ease and Leitch keeping the action fresh and engaging, it’s hard not to walk away with a smile. Sure, it’s a little shallow, and it sometimes feels like it’s running on fumes, but for a night of escapist fun, The Fall Guy is an easy recommendation.