After his Academy Award nominated performance as Ken (a name I’m partial to) in “Barbie,” Ryan Gosling is back on the big screen in “The Fall Guy.” The film is loosely based on the popular 1980’s television series of the same name. Gosling stars as Colt Severs, a talented Hollywood stuntman who works as a stunt double for action film star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). While filming a stunt in Ryder’s latest film, Severs is severely injured and leaves his career and abandons his girlfriend Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), who is a camerawoman. Flash forward eighteen months later and Severs is working for a small Mexican restaurant as a valet in order to make a living. Severs is eventually contacted by Ryder’s film producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham), who reveals his ex-girlfriend is directing her first film, the science fiction epic “Metalstorm” starring Ryder, and she wants him to join them for filming in Sydney. Severs is intrigued, and agrees to the job, but after arriving in Sydney discovers his former love never wanted him there. Moreno is still angry about being cast aside by her former love after his accident. The two eventually agreed to work together again, but not after Moreno makes Severs do a dangerous stunt many times as an act of vengeance against her former love. Of course, we all know they will reunite, but not before some clever bantering and teasing takes place. While the former lovers are trying to reunite, Severs is sent to find Ryder who doesn’t show up on set one day, and Meyer reveals to Severs that their star has gotten in trouble with drug dealers and has disappeared. Severs manages to track Ryder down after being attacked by Ryder’s actress girlfriend Iggy (Teresa Palmer) at Ryder’s apartment. Eventually Severs is led to a nightclub where he meets Ryder’s drug dealer and matters really become dangerous. Severs is drugged and later kidnapped, and it’s revealed Ryder has been involved in a crime that could sink his career. After several fights, boat and car chases, Ryder is told to come back to the set for some additional filming not realizing Severs and Moreno have hatched a plot to bring down the star, despite interference from producer Meyer. Let’s just say Ryder is very involved in a stunt and is shocked to be in the presence of the presumed deceased Severs. The filming is eventually completed, the film is a hit after a surprise casting change and Severs and Moreno are happily together once more. Surprisingly the film has a slow start, but once the action kicks in, the film is high octane fun. Gosling with his understated wit, is great as the heroic stuntman, and his chemistry with co-star Blunt is great, and she holds her own against the star power of Gosling. This film is just pure fluffy fun disguised as a crime thriller, and when laughs are combined with action, they form the right ingredients for a warm season film at the theater. If you want a film involving little concentration, which I consider a summer “cotton candy” film, then “The Fall Guy” is your ticket. You will also enjoy the surprise cameos by a couple of actors. (Rated PG-13)
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