Review of Eddie the Eagle (2016) by Nick C — 26 Feb 2016

Eddie the Eagle (the film and real person)is a triumph of the human spirit. Its a inspirational film, which will leave you with smile on your face. Based on a true story, ETE is a yet another sports biopic, which is about a underdog, but this film is notches above the ordinary. ETE is the feel good film of the year till now, and Its a film I throughly enjoyed. The film almost doesn't have a false not, the acting, the 80s production values, the script, is all top notch. You know if your rooting for the main protagonist by the end of the film, the film has succeed. But is the film really worth a watch in the cinema halls,well lets analyze.

Story wise this film is a true story about Michael "Eddie" Edwards an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself even as an entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach,Eddie takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.

Acting wise Taron Egerton is a revelation, he has made massive strides in the acting department since his last performances in Kingsman and Legend. He totally lives the role, and gives a knock out performance. Hugh Jackman is a complete bad ass in the film, and is on his A game as always. He starts off as a wild drunk, but by the end of the film he pitches in a mature restraint act. Watch out for the scene when he does the 90m ski jump, its a totally bad ass scene.

ETE is not just your regular feel good sports film about a underdog, its pitches itself as being more nuanced than that, even as we know the films end result. The film has a huge relatable factor that works in its favour, the film is about a common man who dreamed, and as a viewer I was easily able to put myself in the main protagonists shoes. ETE also evokes all the right emotions at the most opportune time, and this is because of the solid screenplay and script. We laugh, snicker, and cheer in the film in abundance. ETE is paced perfectly, and there is never even close to a boring sequence in the film. The 80s Europe milieu is captured well in the film, because of great production values(the proper 80s clothing,cars etc).ETE honestly has many great moments in the film, which are full of laughter, and inspiring moments, I mean every ski jumping scene is exhilarating (and amazingly shot), but the pre climax 90m jump in the 1988 Calgary winter Olympics was a heart pounding, literally goose bump arising scene. I literally felt like cheering on for Eddie and clapping while I was seated in the cinema hall. Its one best film sequences I have seen in 2016.ETE is just so inspiring and motivating at times, it makes viewers believe that anything is literally possible if we try(I know that sounds cheesy,but thats ETE for you). We just don't see sports films done right anymore like ETE, for example Saala Khadoos a hindi movie of the same genre, strived to be like a ETE but fell way short. The only thing that bogs down ETE a bit is that the film is not very novel, as many sports films have treaded a similar path, predictability seeps into the film. But these are minor blemishes.

Overall I highly recommend this feel good sports biopic, its simply put a great inspiring and motivating film. Its the 2nd really good Hollywood/English film of 2016 after Hail Caesar (Its overall better than HC).

Grade: 82% B+.

4/5*.