Plot: What’s it about?
Television was different a few decades ago. A lot was, actually. But one show that I remember watching week in and out was The Fall Guy. It starred Lee Majors (of The Six-Million Dollar Man fame) who was a stuntman that moonlighted as a bounty hunter. It also had Heather Thomas, though at the time (I wasn’t yet at double digits) I hadn’t really “discovered” girls. Taking a leap forward to the 21st century where we love to reboot and remake TV series of the years’ past we’ve got this. I’m not the biggest fan of this “lazy” style of filmmaking, but I have to admit that I was fairly intrigued by this one. On one hand we’ve got Ryan Gosling, who’s so ridiculously talented and good-looking, it makes you sick to your stomach. Couple that with Emily Blunt, who’s essentially the female version of Gosling. Add to the mix Director David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde, Bullet Train) – count me in!
Gosling stars as Colt Seavers, widely considered the best stuntman in Hollywood until he has a career-ending injury. He receives a late night call from producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) who manages to convince him to go to Australia to work on a film. It’s called Metalstorm and it’s also the directorial debut of his ex-girlfriend, Jody (Emily Blunt). He quickly figures out that there’s an ulterior motive at work: the film’s star, Tom (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has gone missing. Gail figures that since Colt has been Tom’s stunt double that he might have some luck turning him up. As we might expect, it’s easier said than done and, wouldn’t you know it – there might be some smouldering ashes at work with Colt and Jody to boot.
There are a few different ways this movie could have gone, but when you’ve got this sort of talent in front of and behind the camera – they went for laughs. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of action as well, but this works best as a tongue-in-cheek comedy. There’s an obvious amount of chemistry between Gosling and Blunt which is what makes the film work. No chemistry between the stars? No thank you. Thankfully it’s not just comedy, there are enough action/stunt sequences that make this every bit an action film as any of those advertised. It’s fun. It’s got a great cast and it’s a great showcase for two of Hollywood’s hardest-working actors. I had fun watching this and reminiscing about watching it on TV way back when. Isn’t that what movies are all about?
Video: How’s it look?
I’m of the mindset that it’s next to impossible to make Ryan Gosling or Emily Blunt look bad, but no matter your opinion of them I have to say that is one good-looking image. The 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image pulls no punches (pun deliberately intended) with regard to detail, colors or anything in between. Bright, bold colors abound, but it was the little nuances that really stood out for me: the individual hairs, the perpetual scruff in Colt’s beard and even some of the backgrounds looked so lifelike you could reach out and touch them. Short of being on set while this was being shot, this 4K disc is the next best thing.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack on the 4K disc is, simply put, reference-quality. As I alluded to above, there are plenty of opportunities for this atmospheric track to show itself off and it embraces every one of them. Things blow up, there are car chases, gunfire and everything in between. Let’s face it, in a film about a stuntman, sound is of paramount importance. I found the rear channels particularly active on this one, or perhaps my head was spinning from the previous scene(s)? Vocals are top notch as well, Gosling’s vocals resonate and the score only heightens the intensity. It’s a fun, and robust mix that’s sure to please.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Disc One (4K – Extended Cut)
- Extended Cut – An extended cut of the film with 20 minutes of additional footage featuring more action, more laughs and more stunts.
- Audio Commentary – Director/Producer David Leitch and Producer Kelly McCormick
Disc Two (4K – Theatrical Cut)
- Audio Commentary – Director/Producer David Leitch and Producer Kelly McCormick
- Gag Reel – asdf
- Alternate Takes – Essentially just that, some alternate versions of what we’ve seen in the film.
- Stunts on Stunts: Breaking Down the Action – Five breathtaking breakdowns detail the meticulous designs, careful preparation, and astonishing execution that goes into pulling off the film’s death-defying stunts.
- City Truck Jump/Sidewinder – Grip the wheel with stunt driver Logan Holladay, who provides a first-person view of an incredible stunt that launches a truck onto a crowded city street.
- Garbage Bin – Speed across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge while watching Ryan Gosling and the stunt performers surf on a skidding door, trade punches in a spinning bin, and wrestle with an attack dog.
- Boat Chase – Blast back to the past with a classic boat jump stunt, no green screen required, complete with an awesome explosion that lights up the water around the iconic Sydney Opera House.
- Car Jump – Prepare for possibly the film’s most dangerous stunt: a bomb-blasting ride in a tricked-out vehicle that leads into a heart-stopping jump across an enormous expanse.
- High Fall – Troy Brown, the son of legendary stunt performer Bob Brown, follows in his father’s footsteps with a high fall off a helicopter like only their family can deliver.
- Making a Meta Masterpiece – The filmmaking team and all-star cast take you behind the scenes in Australia for an insider’s look into the creativity and camaraderie that turns the original TV series into a thrilling new movie.
- How to Break a World Record – Cheer along with the crew as driving double Logan Holladay and the stunt team craft a cannon roll crash that breaks a Guinness World Record.
- Nightclub Mayhem – Fight coordinator Sunny Sun and stunt double Justin Eaton venture behind the camera to choreograph a bottle-breaking battle between Colt Seavers and Doone’s goons.
- The Art of Doubling – Meet stunt double Ben Jenkin, a man willing to be set on fire, hit by a car, and take risks with Ryan Gosling to collectively make a single character look cool.
- Making Metalstorm – Cowboys collide with aliens in this look at the creation of Metalstorm, the film within the film.
- Falling for The Fall Guy with Bob Reese – Professional parkour athlete and influencer Bob Reese recreates stunts from the movie, including a scissor-lift dive, Kong vault, and heart-stopping high fall.
Disc Three (Blu-ray)
Same features as the 4K Theatrical Cut disc.
The Bottom Line
This is a fun movie to watch. Admittedly, I went for the Extended Cut right out of the chute, so I don’t really know what I was missing with the Theatrical Cut. And while the numbers were a bit disappointing for the studio, the film was still well-received. Universal’s disc is spot on with plenty of supplements and amazing technical specs. Again I say – this was fun.
