The Stuntman Falls Hard for the Director — ‘The Fall Guy’ Review

Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy. Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

What is more dangerous - falling for the stunt or for the one you love? 

Former stuntman David Leitch’s newest film stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, whose charisma and magnetic appeal are no stunt. A meta-romantic-comedy action film that cleverly intertwines the making of intergalactic sci-fi Metalstorm, a hunt for the missing lead of the film using stunt skills in a film-like fashion, all placed within a rekindling love story between Gosling’s stuntman and Blunt’s director.  

Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy. Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

Colt Seaver, a decorated stuntman—as seen through aches and spotted bruises—must pull off his most daunting stunt yet—falling for Jody Moreno, camera-operator turned Gerwig-like director with whom he shared a fling filled with spicy margaritas and clever quips over two-way radios. Seaver answers the question “How far would you fall for the one you love in the pursuit of love?” by coming out of retirement to fall, flip cars, and take a hit to the wall for her directorial debut. 

Their “cosmic otherworldly love” finds a setting in a sandy sci-fi landscape of aliens and space cowboys galore, with the plot of the movie sparing no detail of the unresolved feelings left within Jody’s heart. Where the alien and space cowboy end up during the remaining third act is to be determined by the progression of Colt and Jody’s reignited flame. Now, Jody has more to risk when falling for him and letting the split screen blur. 

Ryan Gosling and Aaron Taylor Johnson in The Fall Guy. Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

Gosling continues to be the go-to for the effervescent and charming male lead, with comedic chops that refuse to undermine the endearing and heartwarming gaze which has become his signature. The film delivers epic action montages, car chase scenes, and guttural punches where Seavers can’t catch a break and must utilize his stunt skills to return Tom Ryder, the lead of Metastorm, back to set, who is portrayed by a laughably douchey boy-short wearing Aaron Taylor Johnson. Big prop guns and swords are soon made real when Colt Seavers realizes the high stakes involved in the “film,” which Hannah Waddingham’s Gale Meyer, producer to the stars, thrusts him into. Constant hits to the heart, chest, and credibility challenge the stuntman to remain unrecognized both on the set and in his life, which makes the character’s ascension to the leading role extremely satisfying to witness on the big screen. 

Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy. Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

The Fall Guy is founded on and thrives on an explosion of love. Love for the vitally underrecognized talents of stuntmen. Love for film, with scene-stealing Winston Duke’s stunt coordinator Dan Tucker taking any opportunity to empower the impassioned stunt set by quoting Rocky, Fast and the Furious, and Last of the Mohicans. Love for status and maintaining influence in the industry, as seen through the ever-protective producer who takes extreme lengths to protect the star at all costs. 

And of course—a plot allowing the love of the alien and metallic-gold space cowboy to be the greatest stunt performed by Colt Seavers, who I imagine will give a thumbs up signifying his safety from matters of the heart. 

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