Eddie the Eagle (2016)

User Review

• 

  Barneyonmovies

  9 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: Dexter Fletcher's 'Eddie the Eagle,' is a proper feel-good movie - the story of an intriguing and charming little-man rising up in an elitist sport that's executed with real whit and charm. Yes forget the worries you may have had over a film being made about this infamous working class sporting character, as this kind of story - despite the fact we've seen it many times before - is always great when it's done right, and here it thankfully is.
  Now of course it does have to be said that it was no sure-fire hit despite that, as for a slightly Rocky-esque narrative to work you always have to root for the central character, but the fact that Taron Edgerton builds such strong investment in someone like Eddie whilst still portraying his silliness genuinely makes all of that work perfectly and adds further fuel to the fire of his rising star power.
  Equally though, it's not just his performance that makes this movie, as the directions that the script (constantly straddling the line between ridicule and celebration) and Dexter Fletcher's approach (snappy direction mixed with some moments of real breathing room) take the film make for the perfect toss-up between light-hearted fun and serious engagement so that it never becomes schmaltzy or irritating, but equally packs some genuine emotional heft. Couple that with a great supporting performance from Hugh Jackman and a few surprisingly well-executed skiing sequences, and what you've got is a film that will have you engaged from start to finish as you root for Eddie whilst equally enjoying his rather comedic journey to success.
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The fact that Eddie didn't go further than he did can feel a little frustrating in the narrative, but the film does still manage to do an admirable job of making him the hero.
  VERDICT: A film that takes an infamous working class sporting character and focuses on his Rocky-esque central journey, 'Eddie the Eagle,' is a success that could have so easily not been, and only works because of how well it straddles the serious and the silly.

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