Movie Review: Eddie the Eagle

Biography/Comedy/Drama

Rated – PG

Duration –1 hours 46 mins

Release – April 2016

Director –Dexter Fletcher

Cast –Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Walken

Mr Knight

It didn’t take much to get me keen for this one. The preview showed an underdog sportsman and featured Hugh Jackman as a lead character. Say no more. But after watching Eddie the Eagle, the movie gave so much more than that and Mrs Knight and I both found ourselves a little misty toward the end with stupid grins on our face. Both of those things are a stand out sign of a great movie.

Eddie the Eagle is the true story of Eddie Edwards, an English boy who grew up with a dream to be an Olympian but had everyone in his life (except his mum), were telling him he wasn’t good enough and to give up and move on. But Eddie didn’t move on. He became inspired by winter sport and with some skill on the slope and a little research, believed he could make up a one man team and represent England in the 1988 Winter Olympics in the ski jumping.

So Eddie, played brilliantly by Taron Egerton who recently came onto the scene in Kingsman and Legend, travels to Germany to master the slopes in the 15m, 40m, and eventually 70m jump. However Eddie can’t do it alone and during his practices he meets an alcoholic working on the slopes, Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman). Eddie soon discovers Peary is a disgraced ski jumping legend and convinces him to help get him to the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics.

So the two pair up and what follows is a lot of highs, lows, laughs and fun. This story was great! Egerton made the film, with this little funny smile that Eddie does, his thick framed glasses, his love of drinking a bottle of milk, and his never give up attitude which made you laugh and want him to win. Egerton showed his range as an actor where his character was a complete flip from the suave spy he played in Kingsman.

Jackman also kept the standards high as the troubled drunk Peary, and despite the movies focus on Eddie, Jackman still managed to make the audience want him to come around and beat his demons. Another first class cameo was the great Christopher Walken, an Olympic ski jumping coach who you mostly see on a book cover for a majority of the film. He too managed to get the emotions going.

The movie had a real genuine upbeat 1980’s sports film feel to it, with its music, sets and costumes. I felt like I was watching Emilio Esteves in The Mighty Ducks. Each time Eddie took on a new slope, or competition I was just getting behind him and I found his attitude infectious. I walked out of the cinema with a buzz.

The entire theme of this flick is based on the original attitude of the Olympics and that it’s all about getting out there and competing for the love of it, not just the success. My advice is to get down to the cinema, get inspired and enjoy this 80s themed, real life sport epic.

 

Mrs Knight

What an absolute cracker of a film! It is so refreshing to watch and enjoy an original film that isn’t based on superheros or a remake of an old classic. It’s based on a true story but not a familiar story and I loved every single minute of it. I actually knew nothing about it going in, except it stars Hugh Jackman (tick!) and is based on a true story (tick!).

Eddie the Eagle tells the story of Edward (Eddie) Edwards, a young British boy with the big dream of competing in the Olympics and doing everything possible to make his dream come true. While he didn’t necessarily have a sport in mind, he dabbled in a few from a young age, including swimming, hurdles, weight lifting and more. Each resulting in broken equipment, property and/or bones. His clumsy nature makes him the most unlikely of athletes, but his positive attitude and try again nature makes him the most likeable athlete.

Eventually he discovers the dangerous and unique sport of ski jumping. This discovery makes you nervous from the get go given his clumsy nature. However, his blind ambition sees no end and his dream comes to life when he moves to Germany to train and meets ski jumping legend, Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman).

The film has everything a good sports film is meant to have. Ambition, hard work, triumph and a good old fashion training montage that will leave you smiling and tapping your feet to the upbeat 80’s tunes. It is so much more than just sport. It’s also about family and friendship with a lot of comedy and heart along the way. No matter what obstacles came his way, he fought through it with a smile on his dial and you will too.

Eddie is played by Taron Egerton, who you may have seen in the movie Kingsman. Although you might not recognise him as he completely transforms in this film and slips into the role perfectly as the slightly dorky and quirky yet kind hearted and completely lovable Eddie. I have only seen him in two films yet he has quickly become a new favourite of mine and I suspect we will be seeing a hell of a lot more of him very soon.

This was the best feel good movie I have seen since The Way Way Back. I’m fairly certain I had a silly grin on my face the entire time. But I’m 100% sure I wasn’t alone. It left me bright eyed, full of ambition and hope. I can confidently say that everyone walked out of that cinema on an absolute high. I can guarantee you will be leaning forward, pretending to fly through the air for at least 24 hours after watching it. I know we were! I would watch this one again in a heartbeat, even the trailer gets me smiling.