The Fall Guy
Based on 1980s TV series but works as standalone action comedy
The brief
David Leitch turns this stuntman caper into a sugar rush of practical effects and meta Hollywood jokes that actually land, with Ryan Gosling leaning hard into his deadpan charm as a guy who gets beaten up for a living. The action sequences feel like watching someone show off - in the best way - while Emily Blunt brings enough spark to sell the romantic subplot without it feeling obligatory. It's got that bouncy, self-aware energy where everyone seems to be having genuine fun, even when Gosling is getting launched off buildings. Perfect if you loved the recent Mission: Impossible films or want John Wick's stunt coordinator making a love letter to his own job.
The verdict
If you love self-aware action comedies with spectacular practical stunts and enjoy watching Ryan Gosling get charmingly beat up while cracking meta Hollywood jokes, this is an absolute blast that delivers on both laughs and jaw-dropping set pieces. If you prefer grounded, serious action or get annoyed by movies that constantly wink at the audience about being movies, the two-hour runtime of insider jokes and bouncy tone will feel exhausting.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect date night action-comedy
- 👥 Great with friends who love Mission: Impossible
- ⚠️ Too intense for young kids
Heads up
- Intense stunt sequences and crashes (frequent)
- Action violence and fight scenes (moderate)
- Some strong language throughout (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- David Leitch
- Cast
- Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke
Official synopsis
Fresh off an almost career-ending accident, stuntman Colt Seavers has to track down a missing movie star, solve
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Point Break (1991)
Both celebrate stunt work and feature romance amid high-octane action sequences.
Total runtime: 2h 7m + 2h 2m = 4h 9m
