Eddie
The Eagle
“Inspired” by the true story, Taron Egerton dons the
fabulously large 1980’s eyeglasses to play Eddie Edwards –
a young British man who dreams of being in the Olympics even though he
is not much of an athlete. His determination makes him one of the
better downhill skiers in the country, and he narrowly misses out on
making the Olympic team, but finds a way to show everyone what he truly
can accomplish.
After studying Olympic history, Eddie realizes the British have not had
a ski jumper qualify since the 1920’s, so he sets his sights on
heading off to Calgary in 1988. Along the way, Eddie battles those who
think he is a joke, a potential coach (Hugh Jackman) who thinks the kid
will end up injuring himself and a British Olympic Committee doubting
Eddie’s ability to win over the sponsors and crowds.
Eddie The Eagle fails to soar because director
Dexter Fletcher and writers Sean Macauley and Simon Kelton can’t
figure out if the audience should be inspired, start to laugh or feel
the thrill of victory (and the agony of defeat).
The tone is all over the place as Fletcher creates characters that are
cartoonish. Instead of being plucky and determined, Eddie feels like a
slightly off balance, emotionally challenged person.
His “inspirational” desire to be an Olympian is driven more
by delusion and narcissism than belief in Olympic ideals or a love of
sport. Fletcher and team try to swing this around towards the end and
portray his adventure as more serious and dedicated to admirable
ideals, but it has been so hard to take him seriously up to this point
that the drama isn’t as dramatic as it needs to be.
Egerton and Jackman do what they can to make us love Eddie The Eagle,
but the material fails them. Jackman is stuck playing a run of the
mill, stereotypical character who washed out of life and lives his
bitter days and night in a bottle of booze. Even with such a tired
character, Jackman finds moments to find the energy and love of ski
jumping the character needs to become redeemed, while Egerton simply
hams it up for easy laughs early on.
Fletcher’s greatest accomplishment is helping the audience
understand and experience what a jumper is going through as he or she
speeds down the hill, flies through the air, or plummets to earth.
Eddie The Eagle crashes and fails.
Eddie
The Eagle is rated PG-13 for some suggestive material, partial nudity
and smoking.
105 Minutes
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