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Fall Guy: Not Your Average Rom Com

Writer's picture: brigidbrewbrigidbrew

How many of you have seen the movie The Fall Guy? I would argue it’s one of the best movies Hollywood has produced in a while. And yes, while heartthrob Ryan Gosling in it, the film is not just another chick flick. The plot has some meat to it. It stands for something more than just the sentiment of being in love. To me, the film is an embodiment of the concept of sacrificial love. Which is to say, how far will you go for the one you love? When you are willing to make sacrifices, and even to suffer to an extent for the sake of another, to me this is real love.


The Plot

For some background, The Fall Guy follows the life of American stuntman Colt Seavers (played by Ryan Gosling), and camera woman Jody Moreno (played by Emily Blunt). The two of them meet through their work and fall madly in love. But after an accident on set, Colt is badly injured and breaks his back . During his recovery, Jody wants to be there for him, but he pushes her away; isolating himself from everyone else in the process. And so the two drift apart. He takes up a job working as a valet at a family run Mexican restaurant, and Jody gets the opportunity of a lifetime to direct her first movie. A "sci-fi epic of cosmic proportions" called Metal Storm. A year passes and Colt doesn't think he will ever see Jody again. But he is wrong. A phone call from movie producer Gail invites him to Australia to be a stuntman on the set of Metal Storm, the movie Jody is directing. Gail tells him that Jody has requested for him specifically. Colt accepts the invite but only because it's for Jody's movie.


When Colt is back on set and see’s Jody again, he quickly realizes that Gail had lied to him. Jody does not in fact want him on set. She is still mad at him for how he disappeared on her after his accident. Meanwhile, seeing Jody again, Colt realizes what a colossal mistake he made letting her go. I don't want to give away the entire movie, but basically what follows next is Colt goes out of his way to do everything he can to help Jody make Metal Storm a success. Even if it means doing things that he does not want to do. His first day on set, he is forced to do a cannon roll (an extremely dangerous stunt which involves rolling a car multiple times). Even though he really does not want to do it, he ultimately gets behind the wheel for the stunt, because he realizes how important Metal Storm is to Jody. So he swallows his pride and does the stunt. This is just the beginning of how Colt shows his love for Jody. Over and over again in the film, we see how there is truly nothing he won't do to help her.


As the plot thickens, Colt is tasked with finding Tom Ryder, the main actor of Metal Storm (and the actor Colt previously did movie stunts for), who has mysteriously gone missing. With the lead actor MIA, this throws a wrench into the filming of Metal Storm; which could be potentially detrimental for Jody's film. For this reason, Colt sets out on a wild goose chase to find Tom. Through this adventure, he is met with one obstacle after another. Yet he keeps fighting. You see, Colt is still in love with Jody. He shows this love through his actions. Repeatedly he gets beaten up, thrown out of windows, shot at, set on fire etc. Colt is willing to endure it all, if it means it will help Jody finish her movie. To me, this embodies the concept of sacrificial love. Of a willing the good of the other for their sake, even if it means having to suffer for them. It's a question of how far will you go for the one you love? The irony is, that as Colt is working to save Jody's movie, he is also growing more into his authentic self. His desire for Jody and wanting to help her achieve his dream, actually helps him too. It also helps Colt come to terms with how he acted like a coward, and how he wants to make amends. Going to whatever length necessary to prove his genuineness.


While Jody is at first mad at Colt, throughout the movie Jody begins to see how far he is willing to go for her. That his intentions are genuine. And she too realizes that she is still in love with him. When Colt is framed for the death of a Metal Storm stuntman, he fakes his own death through a harbor boat explosion. It’s not until she thinks he is dead that she realizes just how much she loves him. When Jody learns Colt is alive, she is willing to put the movie on hold to focus on clearing his name of the murder charges. Which is ironic, because Colt purposefully faked his own death, so that Tom Ryder would return on set to finish the film. Colt helps Jody realize she can't give up on her dream; she can't give up on Metal Storm. It is at this point in the film, where the two combine forces, and take down the evil at work that seeks to put Colt behind bars. Not only do they clear his name, but they finish Metal Storm. The film is a smashing success, and they get back together for good this time.


Take Home Message

The cool thing about The Fall Guy is you see how Colt needs Jody and Jody needs Colt. To accomplish what they want, they can’t do it alone. They need each other. And they lean on each other in pursuit of accomplishing the common goal. Making sacrifices along the way for the good of the other. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion on the film. I highly encourage you to watch it for yourself and decide what you think. But to me, this film is dripping with the concept of sacrificial love, and willing the good of the other for their sake.



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