WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Believing in a dream. To have the fortitude not only to imagine accomplishing an amazing feat, but to then actually put feet to it, and work as hard as is necessary to achieve your goal, no matter what anyone else chooses to say to dissuade you. Ever since he was a child, Michael Edwards (Taron Egerton) wanted to be an Olympian. Battling an issue with his knees early on, he never gave up trying to prove to himself, and ideally to his parents Terry and Janette (Keith Allen and Jo Hartley), that he could make it happen. Still suffering humiliating setbacks and pressured by his father to do “real work” as a plasterer, Eddie’s dream seemed unattainable.
But when his initial success in learning to ski ends up falling short of making the British Olympic Downhill Ski Team, a new motivation and inspiration grabs hold–to be a ski jumper. With the encouragement of his ever-supportive mother and in spite of the disapproval of his non-understanding father, Eddie travels to the ski jump training facility in Germany, facing much additional ridicule from seasoned jumpers. Refusing to quit, Eddie works to get the coaching attention of a former pro, Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), who’s fighting his own ghosts of a “what could have been” past under premier coach Warren Sharp (Christopher Walken). Displaying his stubbornness and tenacity, Eddie wins over Peary and the two begin an amazing adventure that leads to Eddie’s goal–the 1988 Calgary Olympics and the nickname “The Eagle”.
Next, my Mind:
With this, his third directorial effort, actor/director Dexter Fletcher brings this true story account to fun, witty, moving, and uplifting existence, thanks to the simple nature of it’s “don’t give up” and “believe you can accomplish your dreams” narrative paired with an impactful cast and fantastic ski jump visuals that truly pop on the big screen, and in themselves bring quite a sobering perspective on the sport. Effectively illustrating how truly difficult and physically taxing ski jumping is, the story moves along fluidly and with a solid sense of the realism about Eddie’s pursuit of this goal, even with all the doubters around him. His statement in the film on how he loves “proving people wrong” sums his entire attitude up well.
Egerton, looking decidedly different than his superspy action hero in “Kingsman” last year, very much embodies the character of Eddie, both in physical stature and in his genuineness of heart and drive to succeed, overcoming personal injury and the odds with flare and believable staunchness and resolve, making him that guy you just cannot help but root for, even knowing what the final outcome will be. Likewise, Jackman is at his “everyman” best in roles like this, playing Peary as the flawed, somewhat embittered former champ whose life gets a needed turnaround thanks to meeting and finally coaching the determined Eddie while burying his own demons. Great supporting roles from Allen, Hartley, Walken, Iris Berben, Rune Temte, and Edvin Endre make Eddie’s journey that much more rich and engaging.
In summary, “Eddie The Eagle” is one of those tales that will warm your heart and inspire you on some level when you watch, as this reviewer will always feel that positive messages and examples of perseverance in the face of what some would call insurmountable obstacles is more and more relevant in a world so currently filled with so much strife. So, it is films like this that give us a break and, like Eddie, allow us the chance to soar.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
