Eddie the Eagle

Films based on a true story or events are often interesting and a writer can certainly create a script that is fresh and unique based in fact as opposed to fiction. And when the story is a feel-good film on top of it all, it just makes great fodder for being a real crowd pleaser. Well, after viewing "Eddie the Eagle", this equation certainly pans out in spades.

Inspired by true events, this is a feel-good story about Michael "Eddie" Edwards (Taron Egerton), an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself--even as an entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach, Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), Eddie takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic jump at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. With all the obstacles in his way: two British Olympic officials, Dustin Target (Tim McInnerny) and Richmond (Mark Benton), his dad, Terry (Keith Allen) and others, one would be forgiving if Eddie decided to throw in the towel. Besides his coach, his mom, Janette (Jo Hartley) and Petra (Iris Berben) these individuals were the only ones that were behind Eddie in encouraging him on. This is the story of the loveable underdog with a never say die attitude.

Others to round out the cast are Christopher Walken as Warren Sharp, Edvin Endre as Matti Nykanen, another ski-jumper, Mads Pettersen as Erik Moberg, Rune Temte as Bjorn, Norwegian Coach, Jim Broadbent as BBC Commentator, Marc Benjamin as Lars Holbin and Dickon Tolson as UK Doctor.

Call me a sentimental slob, but I simply weaken when it comes to the feel-good format in films. So much so that no matter who stars in them or even what the premise of the film is, I will still go to the multiplex with the idea to see something that not only entertains but gives me a wonderful feeling as I leave the theater. This was effectively directed by Dexter Fletcher ("Wild Bill" '11, "Sunshine on Leith" '13). I believe that this guy is as effective of a director as he is because most of his experience is actually in the acting field, so he knows what it takes to motivate his actors into getting them prepared for a role and how to extract that certain emotion that is needed to convey to the audience that this actor is the person they are playing. It was written by Sean Macaulay and Simon Kelton based on a story by Kelton which is based on the life of Eddie Edwards. While neither of these writers have a ton of feature film writing, this was informative, entertaining and flowed well. If fact other than some small slow places in script, this was solid. It took a bit to get going, but once it did, it just soared in ways that you won't realize until you see it.

If you're a sentimental slob like me, you'll love this story. We need more Eddie Edwards out there, especially since we live in such a negative and angry world. This ski-jumper could continually turns those lemons into lemonade, and considering the world in which we live, this is a refreshing attitude that we all can learn from.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                              Rated: PG-13                              105mins.