Separating
the Men From the Turkeys
The long, perilous pursuit of ineffable desires and the
defiant, ceaseless hopes for finally satisfying them remain as powerful within
the human heart at present as they have been for centuries passed. Thus, while
a cynical melody screams for Reason to wake up and switch off the moment that
the scent of a familiar story, telling the tale of the fight for mountainous
ambitions to be totally and unquestionably fulfilled, looms with unapologetic
blatancy upon the silver screen, ultimately, that great, undying beauty of
plum-scented, sparkling optimism tenderly puts Reason at ease, soothingly
asserting that to witness and hear of such journeys over and over again, albeit
they are almost always draped in previously used guises, is as essential for a
sustained, healthy life as food and water.
Thus, Romantic Comedies, no matter how unbelievable or
otherwise they appear, continue to be at least one of the popular options on
the cinema timetables just about every week, in spite of their consistently
brutal assessments from ostensibly bitter-hearted critics. Similarly, so-called
‘feel good’ bromance scripts shedding light upon the already mercilessly
exposed world of sport in order to celebrate poignant achievements of a
different but equally gratifying nature, no matter how predictable, may never,
ever grow old. Like Space Jam (1996),
with its pleasant likening of its protagonist to that fierce but nonetheless
majestic bird of prey, courtesy of its employment of a classic Seal track, Eddie the Eagle (2016) charms with an
assortment of likeable qualities that illustrate why its own main character
deserves to be compared to such an inspiring creature. The complete package of
treats may be forgotten soon enough, in part due to not quite enough freshness
or feelings of shock encouraged by the sequences of events in play, but the
brief moments of joy sparked within viewers serve up a dish that certainly
warrants their money’s worth.
A better double act could not have been summoned. Taron
Egerton, fresh in memory from his surprisingly superb breakout performance in Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), alongside
Hugh Jackman, who performs in front of the camera in such a way that holds back
the Wolverine-style rage, refined during the X-Men film series (2000-Present),which has come to define his
career in cinema, while maintaining impressive levels of infectious positive
energy, together create a compelling chemistry that testifies to their breath-taking
versatility as actors, which is particularly exciting for the former star when
rumours bloom across the internet suggesting that he has been considered for
the next Han Solo. Whatever role Egerton takes on next is likely to only
further enshrine his name upon potential casting option lists for future
blockbusters, for he appears to suit both ‘cool’ and somewhat less
conventionally ‘cool’ courageous characters very well. Meanwhile, Jackman
remains one of those artists growing ever more worthy of an Oscar win, even if
not quite reaching the hype generated surrounding Leonardo DiCaprio’s recent
attainment of such recognition.
Eddie
the Eagle may
fail to be remembered by Christmas because of a lack of originality linked to
the plot, which has plagued films of all genres for decades, especially if the
manner in which the plot unfolds is equally far from new. Concepts including
virtually nobody sharing the protagonist’s belief in the plausibility of
success, or the endurance of often life-threatening punishments for mistakes
made during the journey, or even the well-acquainted techniques by which clear
links are established between the movie and the source material that inspired
it, are all present in this picture. Yet, they are all delivered through
uniquely coloured lenses, thanks to an upbeat soundtrack and strong emotional
performances from everyone involved that aid in elevating the two principle
artists. The nefarious odds that Eddie is up against and the high intensity encouraged
by the payoff when his moment to shine arrives are consequently believable and
alluring, often successfully addressing any sudden leaks of boredom that appear
in many major scenes.
Considering that much of the movie takes place in settings
covered entirely by alabaster-white snow, the colours and the emotions become
that much more vivid, allowing for Eddie to command a presence upon the ski
slopes that inspires limerence among avid dreamers. While the impact felt by Eddie the Eagle might be ephemeral at
best, so long as the path to success in all forms fails to run smoothly in
reality, in the end, cinema lovers will appreciate, as they did with Million Dollar Baby (2004), for instance,
another much-needed, exciting reminder that success, even if not quite in the
form that one expected initially, is, indeed, perfectly possible.
THE VERDICT: 7/10
