They say that Britain loves an underdog. This couldn’t be truer of Eddie the Eagle – both the film and the man it’s based on. The real life Eddie shot to fame after placing last in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics Ski jumping event. As the only British competitor and a complete outsider he drew a lot of attention and created quite a name for himself. A winner he was not, but the public saw Eddie as one of their own and at a time before viral videos existed, you might have said that Eddie was a viral star himself, carried on the waves of gracious defeat and raucous popularity to become a household name.
The biopic seems to have taken a few liberties with the truth – apparently there was never a washed up Hugh Jackman around to offer wisecracks and a helping hand to the fledgling Eddie – but it’s a change we can forgive; Jackman brings a nice edge to the film as the antithesis to Eddie’s try-hard persona. Other mistruths include the place where Eddie trains to become a ski jumper, and the fact that actually, he had had a bit of practice at jumping with skis before flinging himself off the real thing.
However, exactly how much of the film is fictional is not the point. These liberal additions flesh out what could be a mildly humorous but actually quite underwhelming story, and turn it into a ‘Feel Good Movie‘. I use capitals because Eddie the Eagle has all the hallmarks of movie that’s meant to make you cry happy tears from the get-go. Eddie spends his childhood hung up on the Olympic dream, despite his lack of talent in running, javelin, or the majority of sporting events. It’s only when he stumbles across the Winter Olympics and downhill skiing that he has any real success. Whilst his mother is ready to pander to her son’s hopes and dreams, Eddie’s father is more convinced that a steady job as a plasterer would be better for him. When he’s unceremoniously booted from the downhill team, off Eddie goes to the world of ski-jumping instead, taking his only chance left as an Olympic athlete, much to his father’s disapproval.
With the young Taron Egerton playing the hapless Eddie, you’d have to be hard-hearted indeed not to root for the guy. Egerton blinks innocently out from behind his thick frames, and he’s got Eddie’s wide smile and under bite down to perfection, looking every inch the loveable loser. Throw in a neatly choreographed training montage to Hall & Oates ‘You Make My Dreams Come True’ and you begin to embrace the clichés – love them, even. The liberal use of CGI feels like a wink to the audience. All this happiness and hard work might not be realistic, but by the time they come around, you’re already crying. You’re expected to, but it’s okay, somehow.
The film references not one, but two blueprints for similar sports success movies – Cool Runnings and Billy Elliot. It’s hard not to group them together. Director Dexter Fletcher was obviously aiming for a similar vibe, and while this film pales slightly in comparison, he gives it a good go— just like Eddie himself.
Heather Nash
Image courtesy of Lionsgate