The Fall Guy Review: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt Lead Winning Tribute To Stunt Performers

The Fall Guy (PG13)

Starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham

Directed by David Leitch

It’s still a mystery why the Oscars body, in its nearly 100-year existence, hasn’t introduced a stunt choreography category (pssst, the Golden Horse Awards has one!). Hollywood makes its fortune from exporting virtual mayhem, yet for some reason the stunt performing community doesn’t seem to get enough respect for their contributions, a slight The Fall Guy — directed by Leitch, himself formerly Brad Pitt’s longtime stunt double — sets out to address. The movie, based on the 1980s TV series of the same name, is part loving tribute, part tongue-in-cheek protest signboard. Gosling stars as Colt Seavers, a stuntman working for Blunt’s debut director (and Colt’s former squeeze) on a troubled sci-fi epic. When the lead actor (Taylor-Johnson) Colt is doubling goes AWOL, he steps up to find him and save the production from going down in flames. The result is a rip-roaring mix of buddy-action, showbiz satire, romance, and detective elements. The stuntology is stunning and the cast is amazing. Their chemistry, especially between Gosling and Blunt, is off the charts: the studio should bottle it and sell it. (4/5 stars) out in cinemas

Photo: UIP

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (NC16)

Starring Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Alec John Such

Directed by Gotham Chopra

The four-part retrospective — released to mark the 40th anniversary (!) of the New Jersey combo’s self-titled debut album — isn’t the deep dive hardcore fans have hoped for. Sure, ex-guitarist Richie Sambora is present to wax nostalgic, so no bad blood, right? But once the euphoria settles, a nagging sense of dissatisfaction kicks in. Some input from fellow poodle metalheads — such as Mötley Crüe, Cinderella, Scorpions and Skid Row — which appeared with them at 1989’s Moscow Music Peace Festival (how that monumental show was put together deserves its own documentary) would’ve been sweet. That, and perhaps insights from their female fanbase. (3.5/5 stars) On Disney+

Photo: Disney+