Kidzworld reviews the feel-good sports film Eddie the Eagle. Can a nerd’s impossible dream ever come true?
By: Lynn Barker
When Eddie Edwards (Taron Edgerton of Kingsman: The Secret Service) was a kid, he was a sports nut competing despite handicaps until, one day he’d be called Eddie the Eagle in the Olympic games! Enlisting Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), a has-been Olympic ski jumping champ as a coach, Eddie keeps falling and learning until he gets it right.
The Director, Hugh and Taron with the real EddieCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Rocky Childhood
Brit tween Eddie Edwards (played as a child by Tom Costello and Jack Costello) is obsessed with the Olympic Games. He just needs to find a sport he can actually do. He tries them all to the annoyance of his dad (Keith Allen) who wants the boy to go into the family plastering business. Eddie continues to compete…mostly with himself, as stronger and healthier kids taunt him.
Peary (Hugh Jackman) coaches Eddie (Taron Egerton)Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Let’s Ski!
When Eddie is 20-something, he realizes that he can sort of ski and wants to be on the British Olympic Ski team. He is low man on the wanna-be team so he is cut but decides to re-craft his dream and try ski jumping. He goes to Germany to a ski jumping sort of boot camp. Clueless, Eddie is offered a place to crash and a hook-up by a hot older woman bar owner (Iris Berben) but is too naïve to “get” her offer. She lets him stay and work at the bar and introduces him to hard-drinking and bitter Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman) once a rebellious ski-jumping Olympic champ now driving a snowplow who reluctantly agrees to train him.
Eddie wins an early competitionCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Peary shows Eddie the jumps on a modelCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Training and Falling
With Peary at his side, Eddie continually fights with the Brit Olympic Committee who haven’t had a ski-jumper on the team since the 1920’s, while he is trained and laughed at by the Norwegian team and hotshot young Finnish superstar jumper Matti Nykanen (Edvin Endre). Taking crazy chances, Eddie tries higher and higher jumps, finally qualifying for the Olympic team despite all the objections.
Celebrating personal best jumpCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
The 1988 Olympics
On the team but just barely, Eddie attends the Calgary Olympics where both he and Peary learn to be their personal bests. Boisterous Eddie achieves his best jump and goes into a crazy, arm-flapping “eagle” dance that charms the crowd and gains him his name. He also makes friends with hotshot jumper Nykanen who admits that he is terrified on every jump that he won’t do his best. Returning home a hero despite not winning a medal, Eddie’s sees that his mom, dad and the whole U.K. are proud.
Peary and Eddie celebrate his best Olympic jumpCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Wrapping Up
A real “feel-good” film with tons of charm and humor, Eddie the Eagle is an inspiring movie for every nerd who ever had an impossible dream….and that’s a lot of us. Usually handsome young actor Taron Edgerton, who looked James Bond suave in the “Kingsman” film, pulls off Eddie’s lovable nerdy look here with ease. Hugh Jackman looks hot as usual and is very believable as the washed up champ with a chip on his shoulder.
Taron answers questions about the filmCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Hugh on set with the real EddieCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
The basic film story is kind of a “formula” underdog piece but it works and you will find yourself rooting all the way for Eddie to triumph. We go 4 stars.
Eddie The Eagle Movie Rating:
Eddie The Eagle PosterCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Eddie The Eagle is in theaters February 26th!
Have Your Say
Do you have Olympic dreams? Do people tell you you can never achieve them? Are you considered a nerd? Leave a comment!
