Jackman's Off Piste
Michael "Eddie" Edwards (Taron Egerton - Kingsman: The Secret Service) always dreamed of becoming an Olympian, unfortunately he was never good enough or didn't come from the right social circles to be picked, leaving him having to deal with his father who wants him to get a trade and follow in his footsteps. But when Eddie learns that Britain doesn't have a ski-jump team he spots his opportunity and heads to Germany to start training. It is there that he meets Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman - Chappie), a former ski jumper who now refers to a flask full of booze as his coat. Refusing to take no for an answer Eddie convinces Bronson to train him despite being a bit clumsy on the slope.
I remember when Eddie the Eagle Edwards became a celebrity back in 1988 having decided to become a British ski-jumper. I remember footage of him using this scaffold bar lift off device to practice his positioning in the air. But because of this let me tell you what "Eddie the Eagle" is, it is a crowd pleasing underdog story loosely inspired by the story of Eddie Edwards and featuring the extremely popular Taron Egerton as Eddie and Hugh Jackman who plays a fictitious character.
And there is no denying that "Eddie the Eagle" is a fun movie with Taron Egerton making Eddie not so much a simpleton but a likeable oddball with an almost matter of fact side which makes him determined to do what he sets out to do even when others make fun of him. It is a fun character without being a mocked character whilst Hugh Jackman gets to almost make fun of himself with a character who you wouldn't be shocked if it had he been based on a real person who had a mullet.
The thing about "Eddie the Eagle" is that it is a flavour of the month movie, a comedy which has popular entertainers who deliver what the audience want. But does it have anything about it to make it close to being timeless and I have to say no.
What this all boils down to is that "Eddie the Eagle" is a fun movie, an enjoyable watch for all the family. But this is the sort of movie which whilst fun is nothing special and so a few years from now it may leave some wondering why they thought it was so special.
