Cert PG
108 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild sex references, mild bad language
Everyone of a certain age remembers Eddie The Eagle Edwards, the underdog ski-jumper who represented Great Britain at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
But the strange thing is that I don't recall his story being quite like the one represented in Dexter Fletcher's film.
And that is because it wasn't. Eddie The Eagle is an entertaining movie but anyone watching it needs to know it is almost entirely fiction.
The film begins during Edwards' school days when he becomes obsessed with becoming an Olympian despite having no obvious sporting talent.
Therefore, he tries many fields of endeavour before alighting on ski jumping, much to the disapproval of his father (Keith Allen) and the British Olympic Association,.
To reach the Calgary games, he is required to meet the standard and to do so he, without any experience whatsoever, enters European competitions against the continent's elite.
On the way, he meets a former ski-jump star (Hugh Jackman) who emerges from alcoholism to coach him.
The film is a bit cheesy but nonetheless engaging with Taron Egerton a naive but determined Eddie, alonsgide Jackman's seen-it-all-before coach and Tim McInnery as the stereotypical Olympic Association chief who thinks Edwards is besmirching his country's name.
So, Eddie The Eagle is one of those 70s-style family feelgood movies which will leave audiences feeling warm.
In reality, Edwards was a quality skier who was in the pre-Olympic squad in 1984 before he took up jumping with the backing of the British team.
I just felt the truth was fascinating enough and did not need great swathes being made up.
Reasons to watch: engaging, inoffensive old-style movie
Reasons to avoid: it is almost entirely fiction
Laughs: two
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10
Hugh JackmanA massive amount of love and pride for this man, director @Dexfletch !! @EddieEagleMovie @TaronEgerton
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