Editor’s Notes: Eddie the Eagle is currently out in wide theatrical release.
Delightfully cheesy underdog stories are as much the backbone of the sports genre as they are difficult to do well. It’s a gamble, really. In the wrong films, cheesiness paves the way for mediocrity, but in the right ones it can access an endearing sense of wonder that rewards all audiences. Far more often the former is seen, considering how films with these kinds of screenplays can only feel genuine with the right creative team, a team with the knowledge of which moments to downplay and which shots truly need slow motion. In the case of Eddie the Eagle, it would seem that a near-perfect team was brought on because what we’ve been given is, without a doubt, one of the aforementioned “right ones.”
It’s as bombastic, optimistic, and wholly lovable as a seven year-old kid performing Shakespeare with dedication, but probably unlike that kid, it nails what it tries to do.
Here we follow the story of Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton), a newly minted British ski jumper who attends the 1988 Winter Olympics in the face of scrutiny and, with help from his coach Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), wins the world’s hearts. On this quest, he wins the audience’s hearts as well, because the team behind this film have given us an incredibly sweet, enthralling experience that’s impossible not to adore. When you watch Eddie the Eagle, you take a journey of euphoria and poignancy. It’s as bombastic, optimistic, and wholly lovable as a seven year-old kid performing Shakespeare with dedication, but probably unlike that kid, it nails what it tries to do. This isn’t to say the film is childish, though it does feature some humor that’s undoubtedly aimed at younger moviegoers. If it were, it would likely fall into the realm of forgettable, instead it’s family-accessible, which is for the better considering its message. Be who you want to be, try as hard as you can, achieve your dreams through effort and struggle, don’t let yourself be held back by those who would deny you that right.
Taron Egerton is brilliantly endearing alongside Hugh Jackman, who’s charming yet vulnerable in his own way.
Kids will hear this lesson clearly, and it’ll be the only thing on their minds upon exiting the theater. Adults will be deeply moved after briefly revisiting the childlike wonder of yesteryear they once held quite so fondly. This allows Eddie the Eagle to truly be for all ages, not just in content, but in its emotional impact. It’s the epitome of a crowdpleaser, through and through. Otherwise, it’s a wonderful throwback to the 80’s, with a musical score that sounds like composer Matthew Margeson took a time machine back to the 80’s and lived there for 6 years, finely tuning pieces of music that would perfectly reflect his time in another decade. Cinematographer George Richmond, who worked on director Dexter Fletcher’s previous films Sunshine on Leith and Wild Bill but separately Kingsman: The Secret Service last year, brings to Eddie the Eagle the same bright color palette he brought to Kingsman to gorgeous effect. Bold reds, blues, and yellows work wonders against the backdrop of white snow.
Taron Egerton is brilliantly endearing alongside Hugh Jackman, who’s charming yet vulnerable in his own way. In a sense, this is the role Taron Egerton was born to play, as every facial expression, every line spoken, is so lovably outgoing. As an underdog, he’s one you’ll always want to root for, in every scene, for every second. He’s trying desperately to prove to the world how much they all mean to him, in any way possible. Hugh Jackman serves as a wonderfully flawed father figure, countering Eddie’s unbroken verve with some realism, which he soon seeks to get rid of. Like Taron’s portrayal of Eddie, he’s trying to prove something, but instead to those in his past who disgraced him. He’s worried that they may have been right to do so, fearing the same thing will happen to Eddie. Together, the two of them wholeheartedly sell this story of personal and public triumph.
Without a doubt, Eddie the Eagle is a joy to watch, has nothing but the best intentions, and most definitely deserves your time.
Without a doubt, Eddie the Eagle is a joy to watch, has nothing but the best intentions, and most definitely deserves your time.
