REVIEW: ‘The Fall Guy’ Isn’t A Love Letter, It’s A Whole Book

The Fall Guy is a movie about making movies. That’s the clear premise of what the film is. But as the action and romance ramp up over time, it starts to be so much more. Directed by a man with 20 years of stunt acting under his belt, The Fall Guy is David Leitch’s funniest and most sincere work. A blockbuster director who has taken the helm of Bullet Train and Deadpool 2, The Fall Guy isn’t about navel-gazing. Instead, it’s about listing the accomplishments and love that comes from a film’s stunt crew. And there is a drug-induced fight, a dog that speaks French, and a climactic romance.

The Fall Guy, written by Drew Pearce and Glen A. Larson, stars Ryan Gosling as Colt, a stuntman who, after a near-career-ending accident, is parking cars. But, when Tom Ryder, the star of the new mega-budget movie directed by his ex Jody, goes missing, Colt has to come back to the spotlight for love and stuntwork. Ready to make Jody’s directorial debut a hit, Colt does everything he’s asked. Which just so happens to include confronting drug dealers and getting in a firey boat chase. While that may seem like I’ve revealed the film’s big moments, The Fall Guy is packed to the brim with stunt after glorious stunt, each one bigger than the last.

As Cot tries to win back the love of his life, he winds up crying to Taylor Swift in his truck, being launched through car windows, and just generally fighting for his life. Inspired by the hit 1980s TV series, The Fall Guy is an epic in proportion and in heart. It’s clear that every actor on set is in love with the craft of creating action set pieces, and that comes through in their characters, sequences, and dialogue.

The Fall Guy isn’t just a love letter to stunts, it’s a whole damn book. From top to bottom, every piece of this film is made with the unsung filmmaking heroes at its heart. It’s a movie for people who love movies, but more importantly, it’s a film for people who admire the craft of jumping through a window and hanging on a helicopter.

Gosling’s Colt and Blunt’s Jody may be the stars of the film (titles they fully deserve for their chemistry-filled performance) but Winston Duke and Aaron Taylor Johnson are show-stopping in their own rights. As Dan, the stunt coordinator, and Tom Ryder, the star of the Jody’s blockbuster, Duke and Johnson hit comedy out of the park.

Effortlessly funny and absolutely action-packed, this rom-com action hybrid is one of the best films of SXSW. It’s loud and brash but never loses its charming core. The cast has electric chemistry and never stops reeling you in. The Fall Guy’s electricity comes from how it embraces its eccentricity and the tropes it’s built on. David Leitch doesn’t just know what makes action special. He knows what makes it everlasting. The dedication to practical effects and stunt work is what makes this film sing.

The Fall Guy has the longest cannon roll in film history and that’s just in the film’s first act. It gets bigger, louder, and goes full throttle in the end. Every time you ask yourself, “Is there more?” Leitch says yes.

The Fall Guy had its world premiere at SXSW 2024 is in theaters now.