The Fall Guy is the latest offering from Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, loosely based on the 80’s TV Show by the same name that started the careers of Lee Majors and Heather Thomas.
The original TV Show saw a Hollywood stuntman moonlighting as a bounty hunter. The movie sets the scene as the premise of the series and is in a sense a tribute to stunt men, raising the age old argument that stunt men should have their own category at the Oscars.
These brave men and women risk their lives to make the stars shine although occasionally, a star will insist on being a stunt person themselves (Tom Cruise being the most famous in that category).
The main reason that Tom Cruise can do his own stunts is the number of qualifications he has in the areas needed for insurance purposes. Henry Cavill famously wanted to join in and was told that no-one would insure him.
Stunt men and women make others look good.
When I went to watch the Fall Guy it got me thinking that entrepreneurs do too. They help others to shine and then they fade into the background as they move onto their next epic challenge. For me, being a stunt person is a fairly accurate description of my day to day.
You go about serving your team, your clients and your audience. Your team prepare the environment, the client sees the benefits of what you deliver by being the star of the show and the audience buys into the narrative by showing up.
When the day closes, no one sees the scratches and scars of repeatedly taking the risks and doing the things that nobody else chooses to do.
So… was the movie any good? Well, I really enjoyed it. It was a rare movie with a lot of heart. It wasn’t bogged down with political speeches or all the hidden agendas that have been railroading hero franchises of late.
This was a good, old fashioned romance story mixed with humour and fun that left me smiling. Two hours of escapism on the newly installed reclinable seats made for one of the best cinema trips since Avengers End Game.
What made this movie so good? Absolutely no spoilers…
Nostalgia:
It captures the heart of the series. Colt Seavers was an 80’s icon and everything from the series featured in the film, including the dog and every boy’s dream, the truck. I remember having one, growing up!
Humour:
It’s an action movie based around a romance story but it never takes itself too seriously. The Taylor Swift scene, for instance, is crafted so well that it takes a fresh audience (my daughter’s generation) along for the ride.
Action:
The stunts are quite incredible and at the end of the film as the credits roll, those stunts are shown to highlight the craziness of it all. From blue screens to cranes, the action packed performance keeps everyone entertained.
Mystery:
There are plenty of twists and turns and all is not what it seems. It’s the unfolding drama that keeps us hooked and with each scene, the puzzle unfolds without getting so complex that you’re searching Wikipedia to read the plot halfway through.
Romance:
This movie bucks the trend and focuses on lost love and miscommunication rather than sexual conquests. Behind the stunts, Colt Seavers is doing it all for love and somehow, the stunts will win the girl’s heart and ultimately, love will save the day.
The combination of these five things makes for a winning story and one that will bring people back to the big screen.
Our trip to see The Fall Guy with our FREE tickets (complementary with another subscription) reminded me of just how much a trip to the cinema can entertain.
Interestingly, as we approach a season of summer blockbusters, I suspect this will be up there with some of the very best. IMDB will set its stall out, but increasingly, I have been disagreeing with their recent scores (especially a well known SciFi series). This one, however, I promise you, you’ll love it.
For me, filmmaking is about heart. Somehow, it seems to me that producers have forgotten that we all want a hero to root for, a love to win and an insurmountable challenge to overcome while having a few laughs with the family.
As Lee Majors (the original Colt Seavers of the Fall Guy) croons in the original soundtrack – The Unknown Stuntman
- I might jump an open drawbridge
- Or Tarzan from a vine
- Cos I’m the unknown stuntman
- Makes ‘your brand’ look so fine
Storytelling is making a comeback and if you want to know how to take the big screen cues into your own business and performance, let’s have a chat and we’ll help you be the hero in your story.
Watch and listen to the latest episode of the Purpose People Podcast today via the link below…
