– By Cate Marquis –
Funny, inspiring “Eddie The Eagle” soars with unlikely true story of Olympic dream
Do you remember the story about the Jamaican bobsled team? They weren’t the only ones with unlikely dreams for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
“Eddie the Eagle” is the kind of story that no one would believe as fiction. The fact that it is based on a true story, a real person who did something so unlikely, is why this quirky charmer works. The fact that director Dexter Fletcher handles that story with humor and a down-to-earth touch, and its delightful cast, is why “Eddie the Eagle” is such as enjoyable film, even for those who resist “feel-good” movies.
Taron Egerton plays Michael “Eddie” Edwards, a young Brit who had been dreaming of going to the Olympics since he was a boy, despite having a brace on one leg and little athletic ability. While most athletes with Olympic ambitions dream of winning the gold medal, Eddie’s lifelong goal is simply to participate in the Olympics. Growing up in a working-class family, Eddie has tried a number of sports in his Olympic quest. As a kind-of funny looking, slightly-chubby, glasses-wearing 20-year-old, Eddie nonetheless narrowly missed being on the British downhill skiing team. Undeterred, he hits on a new sport for his Olympic dreams: ski-jumping – despite its high risk and the fact that he has never even tried it, when most ski-jumpers start by age 6. For a coach, Eddie recruits the ski-jump’s alcoholic, chain-smoking, wise-cracking maintenance man, Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), an American ex-ski-jumper whose own Olympic ambitions flamed out early. The unlikely Eddie sets his sights on going to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary – in one year’s time.
“Eddie the Eagle” has drawn comparisons to the original “Rocky” but unlike “Rocky,” this is based on a real story and it is a remarkably funny as well. At the Olympics, Edwards earned the nickname “Eddie the Eagle” for his crowd-pleasing antics and became a media darling, much to the embarrassment of the British Olympics committee. This inspirational charmer of a movie is the kind that makes a person smile, and even cheer in spite of oneself.
Eddie had no natural gift for sports but he does have more heart, determination, self-discipline – and courage – than a toboggan full of natural athletes. He also has a remarkable capacity for pain, picking himself up time and again, and counting it a victory if he didn’t die in the attempt. It is this never-quit attitude that makes Eddie and Egerton’s performance both hilarious and appealing. Hugh Jackman also gives a comically-appealing performance as the gruff, hard-drinking, wise-cracking coach, whose pessimistic view contrasts nicely with Eddie’s relentlessly optimistic one. Although the humor leans to the dry British side, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, as Eddie smashes everyone’s expectations of him.
Jo Hartley plays Eddie’s ever-encouraging mother Janette and Keith Allen plays his ever-discouraging father Terry, who just wants his son to work with him in the construction trade. The parents create their own little comic duo, adding a little more comic boost to the rest of the preposterous doings. Christopher Walken has a nice cameo as a legendary ski coach.
Producer Matthew Vaughan, who directed “Kingsman: The Secret Service” (in which Taron Edgerton also appeared), was inspired to make this film after seeing “Cool Runnings,” the comedy about a Jamaican bobsled team. Vaughn brought in Dexter Fletcher, whose made his directorial debut with “Wild Bill” and with whom Vaughn had worked when producing Guy Ritchie’s “Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.”
Although Eddie is a real person, the coach is a fictional character, created in part as a stand-in for the audience in acknowledging that Eddie’s ambition is basically crazy.
“Eddie the Eagle” is a funny, inspiring tale of the underdog who never quit, and the kind of non-sappy entertaining family film that is far too rare.
© Cate Marquis
