From the series “The Man Who Falls Right”, five seasons broadcast from 1981 to 1986, we didn’t remember much. In any case, nothing likely to put it above the (for the most part) distressing television fiction of the time. Even taking into account that the main role was played by Lee Majors, former “three billion man”. In the series, this stuntman supplemented his income by opting for the noble activity of bounty hunter.
The announcement that a feature-length cinema film was going to be made from the series therefore left us neither hot nor cold. And then “Fall Guy” arrived, the film comes out this Wednesday. We emerged from the press vision with the zygomatic bones in the “optimal smile” position.
The action begins during the filming of a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster. Colt Seavers (Ryan Gossling, very fit) is the stuntman assigned to star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who is also bloated with self-importance. He is a great professional who has perfectly understood that he is only a shadow of the star. He complies without flinching with all the whims of the film crew. Colt has a crush on beautiful assistant Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt, radiant) who reciprocates his crush.
An accident injured him and he was away from the sets for many months. Colt decides to cut all ties and leave the profession. He becomes a valet. The producer (Hannah Waddingham, noted in “Ted Lasso”), entangled in a new blockbuster of which Jody is the director, recalls Colt. She is in need of stuntmen and, above all, asks him to find Tom Ryder whose escapades are jeopardizing the filming and, thus, the career of his ex.
The foundations are thus laid. What is immediately obvious is that the film assumes its status as action entertainment without giving in to ease. The film is directed by David Leitch, who used to be a stuntman, so he knows what he’s talking about. His scenario is remarkably written and above all constructed. His dialogues are sparkling. Its distribution is impeccable. The staging is inventive and extremely effective. Qualities that we had already observed in “Bullet Train”, a previous action comedy directed by Leitch (with Brad Pitt, sorry), which seems to demonstrate that the ex-stuntman is not only gifted, but also knows how to surround yourself very well.
The result? A little over two hours of simple pleasures, certainly the fruit of a modest but real ambition, further enhanced by respect for the spectator and a sense of spectacle. The icing on the cake is that “Fall Guy” even has the intelligence to be a film of its time. He knows how to tackle burning issues, such as the abuses of digitalization and the crisis of Hollywood creativity, without becoming a burdensome lecturer.
At no time were we ashamed of having laughed heartily. And more than once. But it goes without saying that if you are one of those who found “Bullet Train” appalling, we know some of them, we have the names, the pill could have a hard time going down.
