THE FALL GUY
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham, and Stephanie Hsu
Director: David Leitch
ADRIANO
The Fall Guy is an actual love letter to cinema and movie-making that has so much respect for the stuntpeople and crew on the set of a film. It's also a ton of fun. Granted, there absolutely are moments when the film has serious momentum problems, and the crime plot takes a second to make much sense; however, when it works, namely when Ryan Gosling is able to be his charming self and during the film's romantic and action beats, it hits hard while making you laugh in the process. I certainly have my issues with it, but it's also something I'm glad I watched.
QUENTIN
When you try to do as much as The Fall Guy…which is a comedy, throwback actioner, mystery, and more…you’re bound to not stick every single landing. That said, first and foremost, this is a love story and a love letter — hell, a love manifesto — to stuntmen. It doesn’t matter if a few jokes lack spark, or if an action sequence or two lack excitement; as soon as one of those aspects falters even the tiniest bit, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s chemistry and the total stuntmen reverence picks up the pieces to create an extremely fun ride that will only get better with repeat viewings.
NICK
Considering it had solid word-of-mouth from SXSW and stars Ryan Gosling (who is always reliable in action comedies), The Fall Guy failed to wow me. I enjoyed it, yes, but whether it is the chemistry between Gosling and Emily Blunt, the satirical elements, or the jokes within, things never reach the heights they should have. There is some fun to be had — particularly in the visual gags — but I was hoping for another gem I’d want to revisit again and again (much like The Nice Guys). Alas, this just isn’t it.
AMARÚ
Never thought I’d see a cheesy rom-com wrapped up in an action film, but director David Leitch delivered just that with The Fall Guy. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt have tremendous chemistry, carrying the epic action and meta camp to perfection, even with a too-on-the-nose script and bloated runtime. But through all that, I don’t think there was a time where I didn’t notice a huge smile on my face. From the winks at the camera to the love for the industry’s most undervalued MVPs, The Fall Guy delivers a nonstop blast to kick off the summer season.
PAIGE
As expected, the action sequences and Ryan Gosling's charisma are what drive every second of The Fall Guy. Even though it’s a little long-winded at times, this movie is incredibly delightful and entertaining from beginning to end. This action-packed comedy features a fantastic soundtrack, plenty of laughs, and dynamite thrills. Although the overall story is a tad bit weak, there is so much fun to be had with it, and it does a good job of delivering its message about the value of stunt performers, the unsung heroes of the film industry.
KATIE
The Fall Guy is a fun, if slightly overlong, action-comedy romance that is driven by Ryan Gosling’s effortless charm and the fantastic chemistry between him and Emily Blunt. The plot and script are secondary to the film’s central aim, which is simply to entertain and draw focus on the rapport between the stars, and I was happy to switch off for two hours and enjoy. The film features thrilling stunt work and a reverence for the profession, underscoring what stunt people risk whenever they set foot on set, with plenty of action-packed spectacle.
PRESTON
The Fall Guy is probably the most relaxed viewing I’ve had this year. I knew it was going to be good with leading stars, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, taking the reins, and they didn't disappoint. It took me about an hour to realize that the numerous stunts were being semi-forced into the film, but they are added in a (mostly) seamless way that gives the stunt crew the much-deserved spotlight. There is a little goofiness to the script, but it serves to show just how much fun the entire cast must have had together.
