Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Fall Guy review says that this stunt heavy rom com isn’t quite all it’s cracked up to be, but it’s saved by the boy…and the girl.

My expectations were really high for this one. How could I not like a romantic action comedy starring two of my favorite, Academy Award-nominated actors, Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling?

The plot sounds promising— Director David Leitch, who also helmed Bullet Train, Hobbs & Shaw, and a Deadpool movie, among others, helms a twisty tale that basically involves a stunt man losing his mojo and his girl, and then attempting to get them back.

I was even revved up by the little clip before the movie starts—where director David Leitch and Ryan Gosling, in the most charming way, ask you please not to use your cell phones in the theater.

But alas, about 15 minutes into the film, I realized that this would not be the romantic comedy of the year that I’d hoped for. It’s not terrible, but let’s just say it doesn’t even come close to the comedy sensation that was Barbie.

The Fall Guy review — Who’s who?

Now I will say that Gosling is irresistible as Colt, the lead stuntman—eminently charismatic and goofy. Blunt is a little less charming as Jody, the rookie director whom he awkwardly ghosted. They reunite on an action movie set. But the two have excellent, prickly chemistry, and are together far too little in this stunt-heavy film.

It’s also fun, but a little disappointing, to see Hannah Waddingham, (Rebecca on Ted Lasso), as a cartoonish and over-zealous film producer in a bad brown wig. Couldn’t they have given her a less ditsy role—and a better hairpiece?

These are minor, picky complaints. What kept the film from really working for me was the lack of anything being at stake. There’s absolutely no suspense. You know exactly how everything is going to turn out before the opening credits roll.

And as for the stunts? Except for the first one, you know exactly how they’re going to turn out as well, so you’re not quite at the edge of your seat wondering will he make it? Half the movie is dedicated to showing how the stunts are performed and to opening the kimono to reveal the CGI that makes them look so real.

So instead of being invested in the film or awed by the action, you find yourself trying to discern how they did that…was that Gosling or his stuntman who pulled off that amazing feat? Cool how they hid his face, right? Or was that CGI?

As the film frantically leaps from stunt to stunt, you may grow numb and may find your mind wandering in the direction of  Tom Cruise, whom you’ve heard performs all his own stunts.

But I digress, as my mind did while watching The Fall Guy. Let’s just say I spent a lot of time outside the film, and would have preferred to be more invested.

Now I’m not saying this is a bad movie, I’m just saying it wasn’t all that I expected. And in the end, it was saved by the charisma of its stars, whose immense talents could have been put to better use.

No harm, no foul, however. No one bats 1000. Not even Ken…I mean Ryan Gosling.

Rated PG-13

2 Hours 6 Minutes

If this The Fall Guy review encourages you to jump on a motorcycle and jump over cars in a frantic effort to make it to the cineplex before it blows up, get times and tickets on Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Fall Guy review says that this stunt heavy rom com isn’t quite all it’s cracked up to be, but it’s saved by the boy…and the girl.