Eddie the Eagle

Starring: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman
Directed By: Dexter Fletcher
Written By: Sean Macaulay and Simon Kelton
Reviewed by Brendan Dousi
[rating: 3.5/5]
Sometimes stupid reality just gets in the way of good story-telling. I’m a firm believer in this, as potentially naïve as that could be. I remember a couple of years ago being a little disappointed that at the beginning of Fruitvale Station they showed the real-world video of Oscar Grant’s fate. I was so ignorant of current events that I didn’t know what was going to happen to this character and knowing that kind of took the edge off a little. It would have been nice to have that uncertainty and then have my hopes for that character crushed. Eddie the Eagle is similar in that you’re probably better off not researching much of the reality. There’s definitely a level of creative retelling here that elevates this film above mere, depressing reality and turns it into a wonderful, bright and exuberant underdog tale of the little Ski-Jumper that could. Call me sheltered or wilfully ignorant, but I much prefer that version of reality.

Produced by MARV, Matthew Vaughn’s (Kick Ass, Kingsman, Stardust) production company it’s very clear to see director Dexter Fletcher has been heavily influenced by his work with Vaughn. This film is at times thematically heavy-handed, the musical cues extremely over the top and the set-pieces obviously contrived, but it is still awfully fun. It has a bombastic energy and is bursting to the seams with brightness, colour and optimism that it’s incredibly hard not to enjoy yourself and get extremely caught up in the journey of this quirky little underdog. The heavy-handed themes of optimism and perseverance become inspiring, the musical queues end up tugging at your heart and the set-pieces simply let the film flow better and lead to a more satisfactory tale. What is potentially garish ends up being a wonderful cinematic experience.

Eddie the Eagle would, without a doubt, be a much lesser film without its spectacular leading men. Hugh Jackman, as always, oozes charisma as he portrays Bronson Preary; an ex-Olympian in Ski Jumping for the American team who was too wild and ended leaving the team in disgrace.  Jackman fits the role perfectly, basically playing a more emotionally vulnerable version of Wolverine and absolutely nailing it, giving us possibly the most likeable alcoholic in recent cinema. Then we have the leading man, Taron Egerton as Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards who simply keeps cementing in me the idea that he is probably the best actor of his generation. Taron gives a subtly physical performance, transforming himself from a suave, incredibly handsome brit into this little, doughy, probably-on-the-spectrum, jutting-jawed ball of human optimism and determination. He embodies this character and in turn inspires and delights. He takes the task of carrying this film on his shoulders and absolutely soars with it.

I was excited for this film because I love a good underdog story that bursts to the seams with optimism and I was not disappointed. In a way a spiritual brother to 1993’s Cool Runnings, Eddie the Eagle is a wonderful tale that’s sure to make your heart swell as long as you’re open to this type of camp and exuberant filmmaking. Just do me a favour and wait until after the film to google Eddie Edwards, ok?