Every now and then, a great movie is made based on an old TV series. The Addams Family, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and 21 Jump Street are just some of the best examples of this. What makes them such good adaptations is that they work well on their own and not just because of the TV series they’re inspired by. Now, The Fall Guy has hit theaters, based on the 80s TV show of the same name. Does The Fall Guy join the ranks of other fantastic movies based on TV shows, or should it have been canceled on the spot? Let’s take a look at every stunt, explosion, and car roll to find out.

The Good

One of the best and most intriguing elements of the film is what it has to say regarding stunt performers and coordinators, the stunt industry, and the movie industry as a whole. It brilliantly touches on the unsung heroes of the entertainment business and how they’re often seen or treated compared to those who don’t always deserve the amount of credit. It sheds some light on some issues within the industry while poking fun at it all in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

The Fall Guy is positively hilarious from start to finish. Ryan Gosling gets plenty of big laughs throughout thanks to his witty line deliveries and phenomenal slapstick performance. Emily Blunt and Winston Duke’s characters offer their fair share of laughs as well. A lot of the humor comes from the situations themselves, which are excellently set up by the screenwriter. Topping it all off is the perfect amount of meta humor, which feels like a treat whenever used.

There are plenty of action sequences throughout; all of which are adrenaline-pumping and well-choreographed. The movie was directed by a former stunt performer, and it shows. Every stunt, fight, and vehicle chase is captivating and exciting. The action sequences also tell part of the story rather than just being fun fights, which is impressive. 

Everyone involved gives a fantastic performance, but Ryan Reynolds and Emily Blunt stand above the rest. Their onscreen chemistry is outstanding, further adding to how great the romance qualities of the film are. You completely believe their characters are real and that they actually experienced their backstories. Every actor and actress completely immerses the audience with their stellar performances, though.

The movie is marketed as an action-comedy-romance, and it is, but it also proves to be a shockingly great whodunit. There’s a mystery as part of the central conflict that is filled with genuine surprises. Playing along with figuring out who did what and what’s really going along adds to the fun of watching the film.

The Bad

There are some minor pacing issues in the movie, especially early on. This is heavily due to the need to set up a few major conflicts, but it is felt. It does make the story feel like it takes a little bit to get going and makes it feel a little longer than it is. It’s all great stuff, but it could have been paced a bit differently.

While each of the multiple major conflicts are all entertaining and all handled well, it does feel like the film is trying to juggle them at times. It doesn’t necessarily feel like it ever forgets about any of them, but there are times when a good amount of time passes without one being acknowledged. Thankfully, it all comes together quite nicely in the final act.

Conclusion

The Fall Guy has something for everyone. It’s part action flick, part rom-com, and has a bit of a mystery to it. It’s fun in every sense of the word while also making some interesting, thought-provoking points. This is a must-see on the big screen for audiences of all kinds thanks to its over-the-top action, brilliant humor, and pleasant surprises.

Rating: 9.5/10