Film review: Eddie The Eagle (PG)

As somebody who enjoyed the best years of his youth in 1990s England, Eddie The Eagle was synonymous with being absolutely terrible at something.

With that in mind, you would be forgiven for thinking that making a film about a British ski jumper who famously finished last at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary was largely pointless.

But you’d also be wrong. Eddie The Eagle chronicles the life of the largely unremarkable Eddie Edwards, a man who refused to accept defeat in his childhood dream to compete at the Olympics.

It’s an uplifting story that will really get its claws into you, but sadly one that also takes massive liberties with the truth (more on that later).

Accompanied by a great 1980s soundtrack, we meet Eddie as a young kid in a knee brace. He’s that child who wants to be good at every sport, but sadly excels at none.

Having exhausted the summer sports, he soon switches allegiance to the winter games – and discovers he’s actually a pretty sound downhill skier.

Time skips and we meet an older Eddie, who is wonderfully played by Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service).

He narrowly misses out on reaching the Olympic ski squad and almost succumbs to the wishes of his father Terry (Keith Allen – Trainspotting), who wants him to join him in the plastering trade.

However, Eddie soon hatches a new dream – to become Great Britain’s first Olympic ski jumper.

With his mum Janette (Jo Hartley – This is England) behind him, he jets off to a German training camp, where he meets a (fictional) trainer called Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman – X:Men).

Peary is a former ski jumper who had it all, but his off-the-slope antics denied him the glittering career he was expecting.

As you’d expect from this kind of story, Peary is initially unimpressed by Eddie and his jumping dream.

But the pair soon become friends and set about earning Eddie the spot on the Olympic team that he so desires.

Again, expect plenty of Rocky-style montages and trial and error jumps, as the genre demands.

Everybody watching knows that Eddie is destined to go to Calgary, so it’s the backstory that really takes centre stage here.

With the Olympic committee, his own dad and the other jumpers (most of them naked Norwegians) all mocking Eddie’s hopes, it’s impossible not to root for him.

It’s throroughly enjoyable stuff, with Egerton and Jackman – who enjoys a brief side story involving the always excellent Christopher Walken – both on terrific form.

As a piece of fiction, Eddie The Eagle would have sat very well with me. But the fact it is billed as something of a biopic left me feeling cheated.

For example, Eddie trained at Lake Placid, not Germany, Peary’s character didn’t exist and Eddie had a sister that isn’t even referenced (he even donated bone marrow to her).

None of this changes the fact that this Dexter Fletcher directed offering is great fun and incredibly heart-warming, though.

I only got annoyed about the mistruths after I’d seen the film, so perhaps it’s more my problem than a general one.

Don’t expect too much originality, but do expect to be won over by Eddie The Eagle’s never-say-die attitude to life.

It’s an enjoyable and family friendly offering that perfectly captures the Olympic creed of taking part mattering more to athletes than winning.

Voice Verdict: 8/10
+ Jackman/Egerton
+ Uplifting story
+ Great 80s soundtrack
– Economical with the truth

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, April 8 to Thur, April 14)

FILMS SHOWING

**HARDCORE HENRY (18)
1.30pm (not Tue/Thu), 4pm (daily), 6.15pm (daily), 8.40pm (daily)

**THE HUNTSMAN: WINTERS WAR 3D (12A)
10am (Fri-Mon), 3.15pm (daily), 8.40pm (daily)

**THE HUNTSMAN: WINTERS WAR 2D (12A)
12.15pm (not Tues/Thu), 6pm (daily)

BATMAN V SUPERMAN 3D (12A)
5pm (daily)

BATMAN V SUPERMAN 2D (12A)
10.15am (Fri-Mon), 1.30pm (not Tue/Thu), 8.15pm (daily)

EDDIE THE EAGLE (PG)
3.30pm (not Sun), 6pm (not Tue), 8.25pm (daily)

ZOOTROPOLIS 3D (PG)
12.30pm (Fri-Mon)

ZOOTROPOLIS 2D (PG)
10am (Fri-Mon), 2.45pm (Fri-Mon) 3.15pm (Tue-Thu), 5.30pm (not Sun/Mon)

KUNG FU PANDA 3 2D (PG)
10am (Fri-Mon), 12.30pm (Fri-Mon)

LONDON HAS FALLEN (15)
8pm (daily)

KIDS’ CLUB
Friday-Monday 10.15am – Good Dinosaur 2D (PG)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Batman V Superman 2D (12A)

**FREE LIST SUSPENDED

LIVE EVENTS

BOLSHOI – DON QUIXOTE (12A AL)
4pm (Sun)

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN – PAINTING THE MODERN GARDEN (12A)
6.30pm (Tues)