There are very few movies that leave me with a HUGE grin on my face and a warm, happy feeling bubbling up inside of me as the credits roll. The Fall Guy IS that movie for me thus far in 2024!

Now playing at a cinema near you, The Fall Guy features the Barbenheimer crossover we have all been dying for since last July when Barbie and Oppenheimer were released on the same day, as Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt finally step into the spotlight:

A love letter to the stunt men and directors who work tirelessly to create the magic that makes Hollywood’s offerings into cinematic blockbusters, The Fall Guy sees Gosling’s stunt man extraordinaire Colt suffer a tragic “accident” on set, whilst doubling for douchebag deluxe star Tom Ryder (an epically awful and hilarious Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the Golden Globe winning actor of Bullet Train and Avengers: The Age of Ultron). Once the ever charming, handsome dude everyone loves on set, including Blunt’s assistant director Jody, Colt’s broken back and long recovery journey leaves him in a deep depression and cuts his brief but powerful fling with Jody short.

The Fall Guy follows Colt’s insane journey of being plucked from his dead-end car valet and horrible mullet-wearing life to Jody’s first feature film set as the stunt double for his old frenemy Ryder and his discovery that everyone wants him dead. Add in impressive visual shots and that inevitable “will they/won’t they” dynamic between the former couple, and you have the love child of a threesome between the Fast and the Furious franchise, every Seth Rogen bro comedy (i.e. the ones that are hilarious AF but deliver that must-have wholesome message about overcoming adversities) and the 2000s rom coms we all cut our teeth on.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is Tom Ryder in The Fall Guy.

The twist of Ryder and his agent Gail (a deliciously wicked Hannah Waddingham of Ted Lasso, Sex Education and Game of Thrones fame) being the ones who set Colt up for a murder that Ryder committed ,and the insane drug dealers on his tail, makes for nail-biting car chases on bridges in rush hour traffic, Evil Knievel style explosions and more.

As multiple Oscar nominees, most recently earlier this year, Gosling and Blunt are known for their top tier work but I’ve always considered them more dramatic performers than comedians and rom com leads. I am delighted that they have blown my mind and warmed my heart with their outstanding chemistry and very realistic portrayal of a former couple trying to work through their issues in the midst of very real danger.

We’ve all been there: the guy we unexpectedly fall in love with suddenly ghosts us and then has the absolute audacity to show up at our place of work or other important event/venue to declare that he has changed, he wants us back and admits he was an absolute goddamn idiot. We’ll eventually forgive him, of course, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make him work for it and damn, does Jody make Colt pay for his f***boyness!

Emily Blunt is Judy Moreno in THE FALL GUY, directed by David Leitch

I admittedly took some sadistic pleasure in one of the funniest scenes of the movie, where Blunt’s Jody exercises her creative control as a director and makes Gosling’s Colt do eight takes of being set on fire (while he is safe, it still hurts him).Every woman has a story of how often she imagines setting her ex on fire and this was just perfect. Their mutual declaration of love in the midst of a car chase, whilst filming a stunt and getting the confession they need, is visually, contextually and emotionally fantastic.

This film is, of course, a visual testament to the undoubtedly vital work that stunt men and their teams do behind the scenes of huge movies and it is here, in particular, that director David Leitch’s vision shines. Every method Colt uses to get out of the increasingly dangerous situations he finds himself in, is a play on his stunt men skills – from how he takes down Ryder’s bodyguards without killing them, to maiming them with gasoline sprouted from his mouth and his awesome battle on a truck to save Ryder’s PA. My particular favourite scene is the very meta take of the real life film crew filming Jody’s film crew filming a one take action scene riddled with explosives, a rousing speech and an unbelievable car chase and jump.

L to R: Ryan Gosling is Colt Seavers and Emily Blunt is Judy Moreno in THE FALL GUY, directed by David Leitch

A special shout out, too, to Winston Duke (Black Panther) who, as Colt’s work bestie Dan, and stunt coordinator, puts a fresh spin on the ol’ Danny Glover “I am too old for this s***” type character. His dynamic with Gosling as they riff off of grandiose action movie speeches and lines really appealed to my inner film geek.

The soundtrack alone makes me want to do this:

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Those anthems that get you going including KISS’ β€œI Was Made For Lovin’ You”, paired with the more obscure indie songs that make my emo self happy including The Darkness“I Believe In A Thing Called Love“, are a wonderous, head-banging duo that I will be playing on repeat on Spotify.

The Fall Guy is the perfect date night and girls’ night out film – in fact, I may take my grandmother who is an action movie fanatic to see it. Book your tickets TODAY to see it at a cinema near you.

Editor’s Note: Superfans was hosted as a media guest at The Labia in Cape Town by United International Pictures (UIP).