The Fall Guy

David Leitch's tribute to stunt work is really a winning rom-com

David Leitch and Chad Stahelski reenergized the appreciation of stunt work as they themselves transitioned from being stunt men to film directors. Stahelski’s John Wick films have spawned an entire legion of copycats, while Leitch has shown an adeptness at bringing smooth practical action and appealing comedy in the likes of Deadpool 2 (2018) and Hobbs & Shaw (2019). Leitch’s latest, The Fall Guy (2024) is the most blatant tribute and appreciation of stunt performers yet, bringing much needed attention and explanation to their largely unrecognized contributions.

The Fall Guy is loosely adapted from the 1980s TV series of the same name. In the film, stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is tasked by mega producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) with finding missing movie star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor Johnson), who is the lead of Colt’s old flame, Jody Moreno’s (Emily Blunt) directorial debut.

The action and practical work in The Fall Guy do well to detail and grow appreciation for the feats stuntpeople pull off in car rolls, falls, and pyrotechnic work at play. The on-set world depicted in The Fall Guy is also incredibly lived in, capturing the chaotic and thrilling energy of a set unlike any film since perhaps Truffaut’s Day for Night (1973). There is a clear passion and homage to the under-the-line work of assistants, grips, and production assistants alongside the stunt men. The entire affair shows a love for filmmaking that is hard to resist.

The use of practical stunt work, much as in John Wick (2014) or Atomic Blonde (2017) shows a grit and intimacy that no amount of CGI can do. The punches and falls are crunchingly felt, the crashing through class and fire work searing to witness, the car jumps and crashes pulverizing to experience. Leitch does not hold back on his chance to show off how impressive and showstopping stunt work can still be.

Leitch has always found himself distracted in his plots, sidelining them in favor of spats between characters. This was evident in the charming banter in Bullet Train (2022) and also is evident in The Fall Guy. The latter film is slightly diluted by this clear narrative favorability, with the thriller element falling flat in contrast to the crackling romance between Blunt and Gosling. The two actors’ chemistry is through the roof, and Leitch’s restraint in playing with miscommunications and will-they-won’t-they beats is incredibly effective. One wonders if a movie solely focused on Colt trying to win over Jody on a chaotic film set would have been a better choice.

As with many recent Hollywood films, The Fall Guy suffers from runtime bloating, with scenes and gags running long and third acts with tacked stretched. The thrills and stakes were exciting to witness, but the film’s unnecessary elongation leads to a slight impatience and a lowering of stakes as viewers are waiting for the predictable resolution beats to kick in.

In the end, The Fall Guy is a fun action-comedy that is a worthy tribute to stunt people’s work. The romance and banter steal the show and is slightly diluted by the obligatory actioner plot elements. The film doesn’t break any new ground in terms of a summer blockbuster, but hits all the right beats and delivers the buzzy high of watching awe-inducing feats on a big screen.  

7.3/10