Eddie The Eagle
Go! Winter Olympic warmer to thaw the chilliest of hearts.
Ski jumping Brit's soaring story.
Cool Runnings is a classic. It’s the true(ish) tale of the Jamaican bobsleigh team who make it to the 1988 Canadian Winter Olympics, coached by a down-and-out, American, former star of the sport. Mocked by Northern European competitors, denied support from their Olympic committee, scraping around for equipment, training unconventionally, yet (spoiler alert) succeeding in the end, against the odds. Surely there is no other tale quite like it.
Ummm…
Eddie The Eagle is the true(ish) tale of British ski jumper, Michael “Eddie” Edwards, who makes it to the 1988 Canadian Winter Olympics, coached by a down-and-out, American, former star of the sport. Mocked by Northern European competitors, denied support from his Olympic committee, scraping around for equipment, training unconventionally, yet (spoiler alert) succeeding in the end, against the odds.
“Hold. The. Phones. Are you saying that Eddie The Eagle is basically White Cool Runnings?” Yes, it appears I am.
“OK...well, does it work?” Surprisingly, yes, it actually does.
Ummm…
Eddie The Eagle is the true(ish) tale of British ski jumper, Michael “Eddie” Edwards, who makes it to the 1988 Canadian Winter Olympics, coached by a down-and-out, American, former star of the sport. Mocked by Northern European competitors, denied support from his Olympic committee, scraping around for equipment, training unconventionally, yet (spoiler alert) succeeding in the end, against the odds.
“Hold. The. Phones. Are you saying that Eddie The Eagle is basically White Cool Runnings?” Yes, it appears I am.
“OK...well, does it work?” Surprisingly, yes, it actually does.
From the opening montage of Eddie as a child in middle-England comically floundering in his self-training to become an Olympian, it is clear how similar this film will be to Cool Runnings, but also its aim of being equally as heart-warming. It achieves exactly this through clean story telling; an Olympic-sounding 80s electro soundtrack and delicate performances from Taron Egerton (Kingsman) as Eddie and Hugh Jackman (X-Men: Days of Future Past) as his coach, who both keeping things on the charming side of cheesy.
Egerton is thoroughly convincing as the goofy Edwards, maintaining a confused grimace that goes a long way to capturing the look of the bespectacled man himself. Edwards is not a obviously charismatic character, but Egerton blends vulnerability with determination to make him sustainably lovable. Whisky-swilling coach, Bronson Peary, is perhaps the most fictional part of this “based on a true story” story, but imbued with Jackman’s natural exuberance, he (alongside Christoper Walken appearing as Peary's disappointed but redemption-offering former coach) is an important inclusion, adding the elevation needed for this to become a Hollywood-scale leap and not a mere slippery hop.
They are both aided by an uncomplicated script that avoids labouring on the (unavoidable) clichés; as well as sweeping mountain-side cinematography and elegant direction from Dexter Fletcher (Sunshine on Leith); who consistently serves his unsubtle goal of pulling on our heart-strings like a grinning, tactile harpist. It all glides together smoothly for an hour and forty minutes, only rarely flapping before building towards the inevitable but genuinely joyous pay off – the big final jump. Goosebumps are even induced along with the occasional threat of a genuine emotional reaction as Eddie fights his way past all of the join-the-dots obstacles.
Egerton is thoroughly convincing as the goofy Edwards, maintaining a confused grimace that goes a long way to capturing the look of the bespectacled man himself. Edwards is not a obviously charismatic character, but Egerton blends vulnerability with determination to make him sustainably lovable. Whisky-swilling coach, Bronson Peary, is perhaps the most fictional part of this “based on a true story” story, but imbued with Jackman’s natural exuberance, he (alongside Christoper Walken appearing as Peary's disappointed but redemption-offering former coach) is an important inclusion, adding the elevation needed for this to become a Hollywood-scale leap and not a mere slippery hop.
They are both aided by an uncomplicated script that avoids labouring on the (unavoidable) clichés; as well as sweeping mountain-side cinematography and elegant direction from Dexter Fletcher (Sunshine on Leith); who consistently serves his unsubtle goal of pulling on our heart-strings like a grinning, tactile harpist. It all glides together smoothly for an hour and forty minutes, only rarely flapping before building towards the inevitable but genuinely joyous pay off – the big final jump. Goosebumps are even induced along with the occasional threat of a genuine emotional reaction as Eddie fights his way past all of the join-the-dots obstacles.
It is a confident, bright and ultimately compelling English underdog tale that loads on scoop after scoop of good, creamy feelings. Like Cool Runnings (and it really is a lot like Cool Runnings), it succeeds as film about humble ambition for its own sake, rather than aggressively winning at all costs. What it may lack in laugh-out-loud comedic moments, it more than makes up for with character, charm and purposeful levity; and that wonderful, temporary buzz that makes you feel like you will do something with your life as soon the movie is over.
So go. Eddie The Eagle’s gently energising effect may only extend to you finally fixing the fridge door, or learning Flemish for a day with a free app, but that, and the unimpeachable British pleasantness of the film, make it a sweet, frosty treat.
So go. Eddie The Eagle’s gently energising effect may only extend to you finally fixing the fridge door, or learning Flemish for a day with a free app, but that, and the unimpeachable British pleasantness of the film, make it a sweet, frosty treat.
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