Most people look at Olympic ski jumps and say “no f**king way.” And then there was Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards, who only saw opportunity. Eddie the Eagle is a comedic drama about the young man’s rise to fame.
A good-but-not-great athlete whose ambition outweighed his capability, Eddie became the darling of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, despite not being particularly good at his sport (which, at least in the movie, he only started practicing a year earlier). Coupled with goofy looks and an awkward demeanor, Eddie did not look or act like your typical athlete—which makes him the perfect candidate for a biopic.
Eddie the Eagle is a funny, uplifting and lighthearted tale that flies high, but—like Eddie’s jumps—falls just short of greatness. Director Dexter Fletcher seems content to parallel Eddie’s journey, opting to make a fun, likable movie about likable people rather than anything that has a shot at true glory. Fletcher succeeds in his mission—Eddie the Eagle won’t win awards, but it will win your heart.
Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service), who does his best to look not-so-handsome, and Hugh Jackman deliver performances that complement the film—neither are stellar, but they are perfect for the movie we get. Egerton presents Eddie as unequivocally likable, while Jackson lays on the charm in a way only Hugh Jackson can.
Eddie the Eagle is the feel-good movie of the winter, a charming, sometimes goofy flick the whole family can enjoy. It doesn’t try to be anything more, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.