Eddie the Eagle (5 Stars)

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are currently being held in Italy. I've glanced at some of the events when they were broadcast live. There are lots of weird sports that I'd never even heard of. What's this thing called curling? I'm sure skill is involved, but I can't get into it. Ice skating, now that's something different. Elegance on the ice. That's the only event that held my interest for more than half an hour.

In honour of the Olympic Games, I just watched "Eddie the Eagle", which shows a young athlete's path to the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Canada. Those were simpler days. It's a great film that I've already watched a few times. It's a crowd-pleasing underdog story that knows exactly what it is and rarely pretends to be anything more. Directed with buoyant energy, it turns the improbable true story of British ski jumper Eddie Edwards into a glossy, feel-good sports fantasy.

Taron Egerton plays Eddie with wide-eyed sincerity, leaning into the character's awkward optimism without tipping into parody. He makes Eddie's stubbornness oddly moving; this is a man who confuses delusion with destiny and somehow makes it work. Hugh Jackman, as the hard-drinking coach Bronson Peary, supplies gruff charm and a familiar redemption arc. His performance is charismatic, if comfortably within his star persona.

The film takes generous liberties with fact, smoothing rough edges and inventing rivalries to heighten drama. Yet its unabashed sentimentality is part of its appeal. Bathed in 1980s nostalgia and propelled by a rousing score, it celebrates perseverance over podium finishes.

Success Rate:  + 0.0

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