In my memory, there are two films akin to "Eddie the Eagle": the Academy Award-winning "Chariots of Fire" and the more recent "Boys in the Boat." All three center on underdogs striving for a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
I've previously argued why I believe this subject matter is better suited for a documentary than a feature film. In the grand scheme of things, the Olympic Games are ephemeral, deserving only a fleeting mention in sports history except for notable figures like Jesse Owens whose political impact on world history cannot be ignored. Can we truly justify a detailed biographical treatment for athletes who didn't dedicate their careers to their sports?
"Eddie the Eagle" boasts one advantage over its counterparts: the sport of ski jumping is inherently more thrilling and visually captivating than track running or crew rowing. However, Eddie himself admitted that the film is 95% fiction, a significant strike against its authenticity.
The film encourages us to admire Eddie for his resilience, stemming from a childhood injury that could have dashed his Olympic dreams. Rejected by the British Olympic Committee for being 'uncouth,' he pursued an individual path as a ski jumper.
Eddie's qualification for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, was facilitated by Britain's absence from ski jumping competitions since 1929 and lower qualifying standards at the time.
Although Eddie trained in Lake Placid, NY, the film places him in a fictional German training facility where he meets the entirely fictional Bronson Peary, a former American champion ski jumper who left the sport after a conflict with another fictional character, Warren Sharp, his mentor who rejected him due to his alcoholism and lack of discipline. Peary's redemption arc from a disgraced alcoholic to Eddie's mentor is clichéd and lacks depth.
Eddie barely meets the Olympic qualification standards with a 70-meter jump of 112 feet, but the Olympic Committee changes its criteria quite rightly as they deem the distance too short and unworthy of Olympic competition. While performing on a circuit, Eddie jumps the required 200 feet, but this is only for a qualifying run. During the official jump, he fails and is informed he did not make the Olympic team, but the Committee changes its mind, accepting the practice run total.
Undeterred by Peary's advice to wait for the 1992 Olympics, Eddie competes in 1988, setting a British record but finishing last. He also competes in the 90-meter jump and finishes last as well. His public appeal stems more from a novelty "Eddie the Eagle" dance than genuine athletic achievement.
Is it reasonable for Eddie to be hailed as a hero for finishing last simply because he's an underdog? Such adulation seems unwarranted and misplaced.
Taron Edgerton embodies adult Eddie well, but Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Peary is hampered by clichés, as is Christopher Walken's role as a wholly fictional character.
I've previously argued why I believe this subject matter is better suited for a documentary than a feature film. In the grand scheme of things, the Olympic Games are ephemeral, deserving only a fleeting mention in sports history except for notable figures like Jesse Owens whose political impact on world history cannot be ignored. Can we truly justify a detailed biographical treatment for athletes who didn't dedicate their careers to their sports?
"Eddie the Eagle" boasts one advantage over its counterparts: the sport of ski jumping is inherently more thrilling and visually captivating than track running or crew rowing. However, Eddie himself admitted that the film is 95% fiction, a significant strike against its authenticity.
The film encourages us to admire Eddie for his resilience, stemming from a childhood injury that could have dashed his Olympic dreams. Rejected by the British Olympic Committee for being 'uncouth,' he pursued an individual path as a ski jumper.
Eddie's qualification for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, was facilitated by Britain's absence from ski jumping competitions since 1929 and lower qualifying standards at the time.
Although Eddie trained in Lake Placid, NY, the film places him in a fictional German training facility where he meets the entirely fictional Bronson Peary, a former American champion ski jumper who left the sport after a conflict with another fictional character, Warren Sharp, his mentor who rejected him due to his alcoholism and lack of discipline. Peary's redemption arc from a disgraced alcoholic to Eddie's mentor is clichéd and lacks depth.
Eddie barely meets the Olympic qualification standards with a 70-meter jump of 112 feet, but the Olympic Committee changes its criteria quite rightly as they deem the distance too short and unworthy of Olympic competition. While performing on a circuit, Eddie jumps the required 200 feet, but this is only for a qualifying run. During the official jump, he fails and is informed he did not make the Olympic team, but the Committee changes its mind, accepting the practice run total.
Undeterred by Peary's advice to wait for the 1992 Olympics, Eddie competes in 1988, setting a British record but finishing last. He also competes in the 90-meter jump and finishes last as well. His public appeal stems more from a novelty "Eddie the Eagle" dance than genuine athletic achievement.
Is it reasonable for Eddie to be hailed as a hero for finishing last simply because he's an underdog? Such adulation seems unwarranted and misplaced.
Taron Edgerton embodies adult Eddie well, but Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Peary is hampered by clichés, as is Christopher Walken's role as a wholly fictional character.