Eddie The Eagle - movie review

Eddie The Eagle

Plot: The story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Cast: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Walken
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1hr 46 mins
Release Date: Friday 1st April 2016

Having not been alive at the time when Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards became a household name, my expectations for his new biopic were considerably mixed. The talent in front and behind the camera increased my hopes but my worry would be that the story and the nostalgia simply wouldn't resonate with me. Fortunately, as I am so often, I was quite wrong. Eddie The Eagle is most definitely flawed and I can't say that it will stick with me for many years to come, however, it is immensely enjoyable and fun for all ages.

Taking on the role of the failed yet hopeful ski jumper is Taron Egerton. After making his breakout role in Kingsman last year and making a brief appearance in Legend with Tom Hardy, my fingers were crossed in the hope that Egerton would not just be a one hit wonder and disappear from stardom. Thankfully, after his turn as Eddie, Egerton shan't be going anywhere. One of the most impressive traits an actor can use in their work is versatility. It stops any actor from being typecast and successful in getting more roles. Egerton epitomises this as Eddie due to his phenomenal transformation. In the first few minutes I was unsure of how Egerton would represent him and if it would be more of a caricature with him almost gurning into the camera. Instead, those worries were set aside very quickly with Egerton dominating every scene he was in due to his endearing and warm-hearted quality. Every hurdle Eddie struggled to overcome was magnified in it's dramatic weight through Egerton's performance and even though it looks as if Egerton may have missed out on the Han Solo role, he has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. Accompanying Eddie on his quest to compete in the Winter Olympics is Hugh Jackman who actually plays a fictional character in this true biopic, Bronson Peary. Whilst he may have been a character simply created for the purpose of the film, Jackman makes this character his own and it works in such a way that it didn't even occur to me that Peary was fictional until writing this now. With that being said, Jackman is clearly having heaps of fun with this role as it allows him to relax from all the tension of playing Wolverine or singing until his vocal chords break in Les Misérables. Him and Egerton has electric chemistry and work so well on screen together. If this is a sign of things to come when Jackman retires the claws next year, then he is surely not going to fade into obscurity. Making small appearances in the film are; Keith Allen as Eddie's father who is perfectly fine in the film and Tim McInnerny who plays the Olympic official who consistently denies Eddie from competing and he is just a complete douche. McInnerny plays a very good douche but he is a colossal douche nonetheless. Finally, making the briefest of appearances is Christopher Walken. In a blink and you'll miss it role, the presence of Walken does seem out of place but he's good in the role and if nothing else, adds a bit of gravitas to the comedic overtones.

Again, having been completely unaware of Eddie's story apart from his celebrity status, I was expecting to be surprised with the certain twists that his tale took. It is just a shame that these were the only expectations not met because even though this film is enjoyable from start to finish, there is nothing original on show here. The only unique element incorporated into the story is that it is set amongst a ski jumping background. Apart from that, every part of this story has already been told in one way or another. We have seen the tale of a down-on-their-luck individual wanting their shot at glory. The presentation of the coach being a failed drunk is about as clichéd as a sports story can get. And of course, the tale of an inspiring underdog is constantly seen time and time again. That's not to say that this story isn't good and fun because it is, but I was hoping for a different spin on it all. The director, Dexter Fletcher, crafts his film with precision and care and I felt that his work was played very safe. That isn't a criticism because Eddie The Eagle has no need to be complex or ambitious in it's direction. Fletcher's main intention was to tell Eddie's story in a fun and basic manner and he succeeds in doing so.

Now, when going into the film, I understood that Eddie The Eagle was not made on a large budget and that the effects when ski jumping were not going to be perfect, but the green screen and CGI really did stand out to me when a figure was either jumping or tumbling down the hill. It was never going to be on the same level as technical marvels such as Avatar, but it could have been executed with a little more finesse. But something that really did stand out for all the right reasons was the score and soundtrack that featured prominently. At intermittent points throughout, a classic tune from the 1980s would blare out causing you to inadvertently tap your feet in enjoyment or a cool retro theme would strike up transporting us all back in time. The film as a whole felt as if it was made in the 80's because of this score but also through the energetic cinematography and editing.

Eddie The Eagle is a tremendous crowd pleaser of a film and putting the flaws aside makes for a fun watch that I'm sure all the family would enjoy. This isn't a movie that I demand people to rush out and see because it's a one of a kind experience, but if you are ever thinking of an exciting film to warm you heart, Eddie The Eagle would be a suitable choice.

My Verdict: 7/10

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