The Fall Guy

I didn’t post a “Best of 2024” list in December because in general, movies are terrible now. However, if I had made a list, The Fall Guy (Disc/Download) would have been included. In a barren wasteland of sequels, franchises, and edgy (read: depressing/scary/boring) indies, this movie stands out for its delightful script, star power, and rarest of all, its romantic plot line.

David Leitch is a director I’ve had my eye on since Bullet Train, and his winning streak of comedic action films continues with this tale of a washed-up stuntman trying to revive his career and his love life. Ryan Gosling is a natural fit for the sarcastic adrenaline seeker, while Emily Blunt is perfect as his former flame/current director who hides her vulnerability behind a tough, capable exterior. It’s only when she’s alone with Gosling that she lets the weight of her responsibilities fall for just a moment, and who better to catch her than the guy who’s made a career out of absorbing blows? Their banter is great, and while the film’s central plot about a stunt double trying to rescue his narcissistic leading man from a group of “very bad people” is a little far-fetched, it leads to some great action sequences featuring flaming boats, a mid-air helicopter grab, and the expert skills of Jean Claude, the French-speaking attack dog.

They say every great character or story has to have a goal, and in this case, that goal is drinking spicy margaritas on a beach somewhere, and maybe making some bad decisions. While watching The Fall Guy, I recommend drinking this Spicy Margarita.

Spicy Margarita

1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt (for rimming)

2 oz Blanco Tequila

1 oz Cointreau

1 oz Lime Juice

3-4 slices Jalapeño Pepper (plus extra for garnish)

Run a lime wedge around the edge of a glass, and dip it in the salt. Fill with ice, and set aside. Fill a separate shaker with ice, and add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and jalapeño pepper slices. Shake to chill, then pour through a fine mesh strainer into prepared glass. Garnish with more jalapeño slices.

If the only way to get romantic movies out of Hollywood is to fill them with extreme stunts and explosions, then I suppose I’ll have to accept it. But pretty please, also fill them with great actors like Gosling and Blunt, hilarious banter, and some really tasty cocktails. Cheers!