The Fall Guy is the remake we never knew we wanted

Trying not to give away too much about me, but I remember watching The Fall Guy back in the early 80’s. It was okay, typical 80’s TV fare in the vein of the A Team and Knight Rider. Ultimately forgetable, really. I truly don’t remember a single episode. But oh, I remember the theme song word for word (link at the end). SO catchy!

Better. Stronger. Faster.

The Fall Guy from the 80’s starred Lee Majors as a Hollywood Stuntman who moonlighted as a bounty hunter to fill in the financial gaps that getting set on fire or blown up on set didn’t cover. I have no idea how many of you will remember this show (I know my kids don’t) but Majors was one of those virile male stars from back when it was okay – even desirable – for men to exhibit toughness, kindness and follow a firm moral code. In the pantheon of male tough guy heroes of the 80’s, you had Burt Reynolds, David Hasselhoff, Tom Selleck…and Lee Majors, the Six Million Dollar Man.

And if you don’t remember the Six Million Dollar Man, then I got nuffin for ya. About 50% of this review is going to whiz right over your head. And I feel bad for you.

Since so few people remember the Six Million Dollar Man, it seems an odd choice by Hollywood to bring Major’s second act to the big screen with The Fall Guy. I don’t know what inspired Universal to pull it out of the vault and give it a new millenium makeover. But they did, and we are all better off for it.

Only the Village People can still use that word

Let’s be clear…there is no way that they could make The Fall Guy with the same macho essence that the 80’s male star exuded. Whether that is for good or ill is hotly debated, and your Average Dude has much to say on the subject. I suspect other average dudes and dudies do, as well. But the wise, wise Mrs Average Dude reminded me that this is not the forum for such debates. Keep it about the movie. She is the angel on my shoulder. So, because she is so very wise and because she is correct, I will say only this: I miss the 80’s. It was a good time.

Having said as much, I am giving the writers and director David Leitch (John Wick, Deadpool 2 and the criminally underrated Hobbs & Shaw) full marks on revamping the show for a new age. The Fall Guy 2024 stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt with an excellent supporting cast that includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke (M’Baku from Black Panther) and the delightfully sleazy Hannah Waddingham. Gosling plays Colt Seavers, the unknown stuntman that makes Eastwood look so fine. That’s the only story element that made the transition from the magnificent 80’s to the end of the first quarter century of the new millenium. That’s okay.

What Leitch managed to do – somehow and against all odds, says I – is bring a hint of that bigger than life era back to the big screen without championing machismo or infuriating the always furious. Gosling’s Seavers was a man’s man that was still vulnerable to both physical and emotional scarring. Most endearing was a sense of chivalry, of right and wrong, and a willingness to put himself to the hazard for love of both. It was almost subtly given to us, which was perfect on multiple levels.

Not a fairy tale but yeah, a fairy tale

Okay, I did say that some of you would not get this review, but that doesn’t mean that this movie isn’t worth your time and corn. It is, fear not. The images of bygone male-female stereotypes might have been removed from The Fall Guy, but the quintessential elements that we all still crave are there. Not only Gosling, but Emily Blunt is also strong yet vulnerable and ultimately loyal and forgiving. Both stars embody things that, if half of us weren’t furious and the other half scared, we would all aspire to be and have.

Is it too early to give a 5 our of 5?

Nah, I’d give it top marks if not for a couple of very slight knocks. Yes it was an action movie but The Fall Guy pulled back the curtain to reveal the wizardry of Hollywood stunts and then proceeded to throw sand in it’s own face by giving us a finale that was just a wee bit over the top. No spoilers but you’ll get me when you see it. Just a skosh long, it probably would have be a straight up 5 if they had shaved maybe 5-10 minutes of end action sequence.

And while there was not one note of ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ as the trailers so gloriously promised, the soundtrack for The Fall Guy was beyond awesome. Believe it.

They should have had bigger cajones

Exception to that last take: Blake Shelton’s remake of The Fall Guy series theme song. I get why they did it but it was still a disappointment. Might be the one really bad call of the whole show. But I’m correcting that here. You’re welcome. Even so, I am proudly giving The Fall Guy a well-deserved 4.8 out of 5. Plenty of cameos and rememberberries to enjoy, including the way that Colt narrates his own story. Oh and lest I forget, scene-stealer Jean-Claude. Engage your core!

Enjoy this new addition to my annual watch list and spring for the large corn. I didn’t and wish I had. A-hey hey!

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