Spectacle Over Story: “The Fall Guy: Extended Edition” Delivers Action but Lacks Depth

By: Naomi Fraser

Rating: 3/5

The Fall Guy: Extended Edition centers on Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), the ultimate Hollywood stuntman. Racing cars, jumping off buildings, and running through fire are everyday occurrences in his life. Despite the physical demands and the stress of dealing with self-important celebrities, Colt excels at his job, and his blossoming romance with camera operator Jodie Morena (Emily Blunt) only adds to the fun. Life is good—until a freak accident leaves Colt seriously injured, forcing him to walk away from Hollywood and Jodie. However, when Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), the movie star Colt once doubled for, mysteriously disappears, Colt is pulled back into the world of stunts, only to uncover a dangerous conspiracy far riskier than anything he’s ever faced.

Above all else, The Fall Guy is a vehicle to showcase stunts and highlight the individuals who make them possible. Directed by former stuntman David Leitch, the film delivers sequence after sequence of death-defying feats that leave audiences in awe. In centering the film around the life of a stuntman, The Fall Guy highlights a section of the film industry that largely goes unseen. I left the film with a newfound respect for stunt doubles and all they do to bring thrilling action sequences to life.

However, while the stunts in The Fall Guy provide a visually captivating experience, they do not hide the film’s storytelling flaws. The mystery surrounding Tom Ryder’s disappearance has a lot of potential but feels frustratingly underdeveloped. Vital clues appear without much build-up and propel Colt into a loosely connected series of events.

As the mystery progresses, we spend little to no time analyzing the information gathered at one clue before rushing into the next. Rather than engaging with the film by trying to solve the mystery, I felt confined to simply wait for the answer. As a result, the mystery never fully captivated my interest, leading to the big reveal feeling extremely underwhelming. 

Another significant shortcoming The Fall Guy faces is its reliance on cheesy comedic and romantic moments, which often feel forced and out of place. As a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I can appreciate a healthy dose of witty remarks and humor within an action film. When done well, the comedy complements the drama and allows audiences to breathe amidst the excitement.

The Fall Guy struggles to strike this balance. On paper, Ryan Gosling is the perfect actor to blend comedy and action, but his jokes and intended funny moments don’t land. The film tries too hard to get laughs, resulting in a barrage of eye-roll-inducing one-liners and over-the-top acting choices. Though genuinely funny scenes appear throughout, the corny comedy leaves a bigger impression.

The Fall Guy’s portrayal of Colt and Jodie rekindling their relationship contains a series of melodramatic moments that continue the corny trend. From lingering stares to dramatic declarations of love, the film overdoes the romance to the point where it becomes annoying. The cheesy portrayal of Colt and Jodie’s love is especially disappointing when considering how well Gosling and Blunt work together. Their electric chemistry is enough to hook audiences to the romance—we don’t need the extra drama. But instead of relying on the talent at its disposal, The Fall Guy relies on melodramatic tropes that detract from the natural and fun love Colt and Jodie share.

Despite these flaws, The Fall Guy manages to deliver an incredible finale. The ending sequence perfectly blends stunts, suspense, humor, and romance to create a truly captivating and entertaining conclusion. If the entire film had followed the blueprint of its epic final act, it would have been a much more compelling watch.

In the end, The Fall Guy excels in what it was primarily designed to do: showcase jaw-dropping stunts. But when it comes to storytelling, the film comes up short. While the film contains the groundwork for a gripping mystery and authentic moments of romance and humor, lack of development prevents these elements from reaching their full potential.