The new action movie ‘The Fall Guy’ is here with a boatload of action. The movie revolves around the stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) who had to quit his work after an unfortunate workplace accident which resulted in a broken spine. After spending a whole year away from the industry he gets a phone call from the producer Gail (Hannah Waddingham) begging him to return to the set. After he turns her down she insists that the director, Colts former love interest Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), asked for him specifically. He agrees to do the movie so he can ask her for forgiveness but on set it is revealed that she didn’t ask for him at all and is mad at Colt for leaving him after he broke his back. Gail explains in private with Colt that she actually got him involved because the star of the movie, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), has disappeared. Gail explains that she needs Colts expertise to find him and Colt begrudgingly agrees to help. After Colt finds a dead body on his chase for Tom it is clear that something isn't as it should be.

The movie is a modern movie adaptation of the 80s show, ‘The Fall Guy’ (1981-1986), starring Lee Majors as Colt Seavers. I, personally, am not familiar with the original and can therefore not provide a deeper comparison between the two but the new movie seems to differ from the original by a large amount. The show's version of Colt works as a bounty hunter when he is strapped for cash. He does this along with his trainee Howie Munson (Douglas Barr). In the new movie Howie doesn't appear whatsoever although he was a central character in the original. Many characters that appear in the movie either weren't in the original, or weren't as prominent as they were in the movie, the main outliers are Colt and Jody. The original creator of the show, Glen A. Larson is credited as a writer on the movie.

After having watched this movie I am quite conflicted. This movie has amazing action and stunts which is undeniable. One of my favorite modern action sequences comes from this movie. At one point Colt gets drugged and attacked by a large gang of criminals. In a long and vibrant slow motion sequence we get to see Colt handle all of the incoming attacks and decommission all the criminals as every hit is outlined by a beautiful barrage of colors. If this review was based solely on visual effects, cinematography, and stunts, this would be up there with ‘Citizen Kane’ and ‘The Godfather’. Sadly enough the writing just isn't up to snuff.

Going just by relatively superficial things I find the dialogue in the movie very obnoxious. It is filled with Hollywood banter in an attempt to be funny, it often isn’t. It is, of course, a matter of taste but personally I find it uncreative, unfunny, and seldomly fitting with the narrative. Some attempts at humor are also rather juvenile. There is one point in the movie where it is very important that Colt isn't seen or found as he is risking prison or death by showing himself. Despite this Colt decides to step out behind one of the main antagonists and flip the bird behind their back for a rather long time which doesn’t lead to anything. It's as previously mentioned a matter of taste whether you like this kind of comedy or not but I feel like it retracts from my engagement. There are however other more major issues.

The movie is a romcom masquerading as an action movie. This doesn't have to be a problem but it becomes one when the main relationship is ill defined. From the beginning of the movie we get to know the main couple, Colt and Jody, as friends and coworkers who are both into each other but not in a serious relationship. When Colt breaks his back it is understandable that he loses contact with her for a year even though he loves her. When they at last reunite, the movie instead decides to redefine their earlier relationship as something more than just flirting and it has left Jody upset at Colt which then is used to justify her publicly shaming him in a very long and uncomfortable scene. This is not made explicit to make a statement or anything, it is just weird.

Aside from my problem with the romance there is also an issue that the movie is what's called an ‘idiot plot’. A big reason why the movie even works at all is because people are idiots. There are multiple times where a single conversation, phone call, or sms would solve an important issue and the only reason why they don’t do it is because they didn’t think of it or are stupid. There are often no other reasons why except in a few edge cases where there is an explanation but in those scenarios it is weak excuses.

Despite my grievances with the writing it is still a movie that I reckon many people would like. You don't have to like the story to appreciate the action but it does take away from the experience in my opinion. I recommend this movie to action fans who just want a 2 hour rollercoaster but to anyone else it isn't a must.