'The Fall Guy' review: Charming, but lacks on narrative front
The Fall Guy tells the story of a talented stuntman Colt (Ryan Gosling) and a camera operator (later a director) Jody (Emily Blunt). A love-filled, passionate love letter to the art of moviemaking, specifically the indispensable yet invisible stunt community, it has enough charms to keep you hooked. However, it lacks narrative gumption, eventually leaving you with the feeling that something major is amiss.
This is what happens in the movie
The David Leitch directorial underscores the life of Colt, who, after a harrowing accident, vanishes into nothingness for 18 months. When he realizes that Jody, the love of his life, is making her directorial debut, he finally comes out of semi-retirement, to have another shot at love and work. Alas, he doesn't know that he's only a pawn in a larger conspiracy.
Can't get enough of Gosling!
TFG's biggest strength lies in its performances, especially that of Gosling, who seems to have walked straight off Barbie's set to this one. He is goofy, charming, always watchable, never overbearing, and even when scenes are cliche and dialogues are run-of-the-mill, it's tough to take eyes off of him. His and Blunt's combination is like a marriage of irresistible charm and measured pace.
A peek into what goes on at movie sets
Since the film spends almost all its time taking place on movie sets, it's unsurprising that the film mirrors the energy, hustle, bustle, madness, and unbridled energy of a film set. I may not have stepped foot on a set ever, but the chaos is so palpable through the screen that you can almost feel the crew sitting on a ticking time bomb.
Its comedic elements keep the film going
The Fall Guy (like another recent Hollywood film Anyone But You), extracts humor out of as many situations as possible, without having to resort to misogynistic or fat-shaming jokes (Indian cinema needs to take notes). Take, for instance, a man in an alien suit talking about falling for his wife's sister or the concept of nihilism being called "a sexy bacon for entertainment."
Heartfelt ode to the invisibilized stunt community
TFG's commentary on the lives of stuntpeople may be wrapped in humor but is immensely scathing and leaves you to ponder upon this overlooked aspect of filmmaking. "I just need you, I don't need your face," Colt is told at one point, and in another instance, he hears, "No one's gonna know if you're there or not." Demand for their skills, but no respect.
Its biggest issue is its weak, substanceless plot
Despite its charms and entertainment quotient, it is tough to completely root for TFG because of its plot, which is so thin you could poke a finger through it. Just how much the cinematography and actors can do if the plot refuses to move forward or doesn't have enough substance to hold the project together? At times, it feels like a missed opportunity.
We needed more backstory about Jody-Colt
While Blunt and Gosling sell their characters, one feels tragically robbed considering how little time we spend with them before the plot kicks into motion. Had the screenplay included more scenes encapsulating the time he had a crush on her, it would have made it easier for us to fathom and relate to the ache they feel when they are apart from one another.
Makes some odd choices with selected scenes
Simultaneously, the film feels longer than it is, and also in a rush to finish scenes. Some sequences take an awkward turn all of a sudden, while at other junctures, the cameras keep rolling even though ideally the scene should have transitioned to the next one already. An overlong action sequence in the second half, particularly, overstays its welcome.
Can be missed in theaters, watch it on OTT later
At the core of it, The Fall Guy is a mixed bag. It revels in its silliness, pays homage to an industry that needs more recognition, and even has a cheeky jibe toward the Oscars not awarding in this category, but its heart feels tragically hollow. It only gets surface-level treatment, though what would have worked better is more narrative profundity. Verdict: 2.5/5 stars.
