Infectious fortitude
Directed by: Dexter Fletcher
Written by: Sean Macaulay, Simon Kelton
Cast: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman
Swift shot: Loosely based on actual events of Eddie the Eagle, this film has the heart and drive to remind us all that often the only thing holding you back is your own self-doubt. Taron Egerton steps out of his impeccable spy suit as he challenges himself to portray one of Britain’s most admired, yet equivocally awkward, heroes. He completely transformed for the role, adding some weight and pudginess and changing his accent and some of his facial contortions were painful to endure. Yet, he wanted to make sure the character was not a joke, but rather an earnest go-getter who never took to the word quit.
Young Eddie is convinced he’s going to be an Olympian, never mind the fact that he’s been wearing a brace to correct his knees and doctors advised him to take up reading. Also, never mind the fact that his dear old dad, played wonderfully by Keith Allen wants to keep him grounded in plaster, almost quite literally. He’s determined to see Eddie apprentice and become a master plasterer, but Eddie was meant to soar!
Eddie does work with his father on jobs, but once his braces come off, he’s taken to entering local downhill ski tournaments, where he does well enough to be nearly included in the Olympic squad. But, in reality, they were just placating the lad, now a 22 year old man without a firm understanding of his station in life. He’s not Olympic material. And everyone, except his mum (Jo Hartley), keep reminding him.
Oh, but, just wait. Not only is Eddie going to the Olympics, he’s going to break records! Will he end up breaking his neck too?
There’s never been a significant British ski jumper since before World War II, and he was abysmal, to say the least. So, Eddie has this brilliant plan to “borrow” his dad’s van and head to Garmisch Germany, the place to be to learn from the best. When he gets there, he has no means to pay for room and board, but that is quickly remedied and he’s off to begin his lessons in how to ski jump. [Imagine, if you will, those old Goofy “How to” sports clips] Eddie is the laughing stock of the camp, the Norwegians are particularly brutally honest to him. The kind of ribbing he gets would pass for comedy, if you didn’t love this guy so much. And, while the Northmen start out as the bullies, things change as they watch Eddie’s determined focus take shape, albeit glacially slowly.
Eddie can’t train on his own, of course, enter washed up snow plow driver, Bronson Peary (Jackman) who was only one “Bub” away from Wolverine, sans the shiny claws. It wasn’t much of a stretch for Jackman to play Peary, but he is challenged later in the film as his character grows a bit. Sadly, though, there was no real Bronson Peary, he’s a composite of several coaches that actually gave up on Eddie, in real life. You’ll have to watch the film to see if Bronson, or Britain, or Eddie’s family, or anyone gives up on the Eagle.
Anyone can fall down a hill, but it takes incredible courage to keep climbing up the hill and look down and think, yea, this makes sense – I’ll just strap on these razor blades and launch myself into the air and pray my limbs don’t wind up in my back pocket! I’ve always wondered if God watches sports, particularly the Olympics. And I have come to the conclusion, that ski jumping is the most natural, unnatural sport there is. Essentially, it’s just an evolution of playing on the slide as a child, writ much much larger. Personally, I think God does watch as his creations entertain themselves, while they entertain him. Eddie is certainly entertaining, and his enthusiasm is contagious, as he entered the world stage in 1988 and went from obscurity to super hero, seemingly overnight.
With visuals that are designed to stun and terrify, Eddie the Eagle will have you wincing and gripping the arm rests, and while some of the characters were added in to help make the story a little more theater worthy, I’d wager if you are old enough, you remember rooting for Eddie. I certainly did, as he reminded me that the only person that can truly keep you down is staring in the mirror.
