By Reviews are in for David Leitch’s “The Fall Guy” and with 125 reviews counted, the film sits at an 86% (7.2/10) on Rotten Tomatoes with plenty of love for its stars, their chemistry and a sense of fun and love of movie making.
Criticisms are more focused on the film around them and it not being up to the same level, so mileage may vary on how much the charisma and stunts can power through any narrative shortcomings.
The film follows a stuntman (Ryan Gosling) who, nearly two years after a major accident, ends up working in Australia on the directorial debut action film of his ex-girlfriend (Emily Blunt). He soon finds himself recruited by an agent (Hannah Waddingham) to investigate a conspiracy surrounding the disappearance of the film’s lead actor (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).
Here’s a sampling of review quotes:
“With some incredible stunts and Gosling and Blunt on top form, this gloriously entertaining comedy is a love-letter to the unsung heroes of cinema.” – Kelechi Ehenulo, Empire Magazine
“This movie is a lot of things — all of them incredibly fun and enjoyable — but at its heart, it’s a joyous return to form for the romantic comedy. Welcome back.” – Odie Henderson, Boston Globe
“With the self-referential humor, the industry jokes and the promise of a little romance, it feels like one of those movies we all complain they don’t make anymore.” – Lindsey Behr, Associated Press
“A blockbuster-to-be just like the ’90s used to make; a perfect summer movie, and a celebration of the hard work it takes to make a perfect summer movie happen.” – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
“Overstays its welcome for a bit, but the stunts, the comedy, and the spark between the film’s dynamic leads make the movie a delectable kick-off to the popcorn pleasures of the summer-movie season.” – Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict
“Gosling’s performance is a reminder of how many just-okay action movies of yesteryear easily coasted on charisma. The Fall Guy is more than okay, but it would be a lot less without Gosling’s laidback warmth.” – Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair
“Whenever its main characters are pulled apart, the movie magic, in every sense of the phrase, dissipates, leaving us with a bland, derivative action-comedy that’s never quite as funny or thrilling as it thinks it is.” – Derek Smith, Slant Magazine
“The Fall Guy is so perceptive about providing an accessible behind-these-scenes look at the dazzling, unseen [stunt] work that it’s a shame the film gets bogged down in a crime caper that underdelivers.” – John Fink, The Film Stage
“Everything is lazy incoherence, cliche or leaden repetition. There’s a joke about a stunt dog that responds to only French commands. It’s funny at first, but then, like every paltry whiff of originality in the movie, it’s beaten to death.” – Kevin Maher, Times
The film began its international rollout last week and is set to kick of the U.S. Summer movie season on Friday.
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