(SPOILER WARNING!!! This article does contain spoilers, if you haven’t seen the movie, just see the first paragraph to be informed without spoilers!!!)

Eddie the Eagle is a cliched sports movie, reminds me a lot of the movie Cool Runnings, but the message is there about perseverance and fighting for a dream, where it makes this movie worthwhile.

Rating: 4 Stars

I know I have talked about sports movies before, but I will say one thing. I really enjoy watching a sports movie about a sport that isn’t recognized by an average person. Those types of movies really keeps me engaged on learning that sport, and at times, try to participate (I’m not ski jumping, so don’t bother asking). One movie in particular I enjoyed watching about a unique sport is Cool Runnings. That movie showed how bobsledding is practiced and runned, and the movie was hilarious with a great story. That movie has to be in my top 20 of favorite movies of all time. I still know a lot of the lines by heart. These types of movies make me learn about rugby (Invictus), equestrian (Seabiscuit). and mixed martial arts (Warrior). So with the movie Eddie the Eagle coming out, I was curious to see what ski jumping is all about. I knew you were going to learn the ins and outs of it, and i was ready. I was also ready to be entertained. For the most part, I was right.

What I Like: The movie did teach me a lot about ski jumping. How it is trained, practiced, and executed. I enjoyed learning about this sport, and how dangerous it really can be. Gives you a great amount of respect for these kinds of athletes, cuz one mistake can make you badly injured or death.Director Dexter Fletcher, really paints a great picture of this sport, and gives us a visual understanding on what goes on behind the scenes of ski jumping. The acting in this movie was great. Taron Egerton playing Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards was really on point. He took the role of this real life athlete, and made him authentic on film. From his faces, to the way he talks, and his mannerisms. I’m sure the real Eddie the Eagle would be proud with Egerton’s performance. The chemistry between him, and his coach, Bronson Peary played by Hugh Jackman, was very genuine. How they met, and how that relationship has flourished really brings out a sense of empathy for one another. Knowing that this guy won’t win, but pushing him to do his best, can get you respect. The main story of this movie about a guy with a dream can really capture your heart and make it emotional. You see a guy willing to take risks, and when adversity hits him in many different ways, he doesn’t give up. This movie has a great message about perseverance and heart. When you have these two things, you can fulfill that dream one step at a time.

The So So: I don’t know how much of this movie really happened, but if the British Olympic Committee were really jerks to him, shame on them for really trying to dismantle a person’s dream. However, a part of me believes that was exaggerated for the film’s sake, which kind of makes sense.

What I Didn’t Like: This movie had all of the cliches in a sports movie. What really bothered me throughout this whole movie is the similarities with one of my favorite movies, Cool Runnings. Starts with a guy who wants to be an Olympian, their main sport didn’t work out for them, so they try some new sport, they find a guy who is deadbeat in life to coach them, they originally don’t qualify for the Olympics, but then they do, the athlete’s dad doesn’t agree with what they do, try to force them to do another job, but in the end, they wear a T-shirt supporting them, other athletes are real jerks to them, the coach’s coach in their time hates them, but finds new respect, they don’t win, but still earns respect, and lastly, they both take place in the same Olympic in 1988 in Calgary. It’s amazing really, how similar these two movies are. It is hard to write a sports movie that isn’t cliched, even if it did really happen in real life.

Overall: with all cliches aside, the movie can be a great and inspirational to watch. If you have a dream, work for it, and don’t give up. Once you do make it, do your best, it’s all that counts. That’s what this movie is all about, and that’s why it makes it worthwhile for the whole family to watch!!!

Rating: 4 Stars

(Sidenote: Cooties- This movies premise is very interesting and unique about having young elementary kids as killer zombies. This movie starts off entertaining and funny. The over the top violence really made this movie appropriate for what it is, a comedy horror movie. However, once it got to the third act, it just got dumb and redundant. The fact that it doesn’t end well, can leave you unsatisfied!!!
Rating: 3 Stars)

(Sidenote: Infinitely Polar Bear- This movie is really all about seeing Mark Ruffalo playing a bipolar guy raising his daughters. The dialogue and exchanges are hilarious and heart warming. Even though the guy does have his issues mentally, his big heart is what really shows to forgive and give him the benefit of the doubt. The movie has it charm, but there can be some scenes where it can drag along and be boring. So it is a movie of family moments that you can enjoy!!!
Rating: 3.5 Stars)