Eddie The Eagle (2016) Directed by Dexter Fletcher. Starring: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Tom Costello Jr. IMDB says “The story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics.”
Eddie the Eagle reminded me a lot of 2014’s Chef. I left the theatre after both feeling happy and that I could take on the world. Both are just fun and lighthearted films that show you the importance of never giving up and following your dreams. But unlike Chef, Eddie the Eagle is a bit more of an underdog story. It’s a biopic about Eddie Edwards (played wonderfully by Taron Egerton), a boy who always aspired to be an Olympic athlete. After years and years of searching (and many broken pairs of glasses) he decides he’s going to be a ski jumper and represent his home country in the 1988 Winter Olympics. He finds himself in Germany, training alone, and he crosses paths with drunken caretaker Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman). But it turns out, Bronson is more than just a drunk, he’s a former Olympic athlete. The two pair up and take on the world.
I really enjoyed this movie. It was fun and light and just made you feel good. There is plenty of laughter to go around and at times, you find yourself rooting for Eddie. The audience I saw the film with actually cheered a handful of times and applauded. Taron Egerton is solid and I’m happy to see that. I’ve only ever seen him in Kingsmen: The Secret Service and to see him physically embody this character shows me his range and potential. I’ll happily watch anything he is in. Hugh Jackman was good but it was kinda weird seeing him in a role where he’s not beating the hell out of someone. The score, provided by Matthew Margeson (Kingsmen, Kick-Ass 2) was great. It captured the 80s with a real heavy synthesized vibe and had a monologue featuring Hall and Oates.
The film felt like those sports films of the early 90s where a ragtag group gets together to go the distance, but I don’t think this film will have as much of staying power. It’s not that the performances were bad or the film as a whole was bad; it’s just ultimately forgettable. It’s another sports biopic that follows the standard underdog plot. It doesn’t break any ground nor are there moments that make this a must see. There are also some moments that relied too much on green screen, which, to me, cheapened the moment. But overall, the film is worth checking out, especially if you need a little pick me up.
FTS SCORE: 71%
Eddie The Eagle is in theaters nationwide February 26, 2016.