'The Fall Guy' is a preposterous, outrageously stunt-filled, utterly charming blockbuster

“The Fall Guy” is like taking “The Thin Man,” dragging it into the 21st century and setting it in the world of filmmaking, and swapping out momentous drinking with momentous stunts.

OK, maybe it’s a stretch to compare a talk-happy movie from 1934 — even if it’s one of the greatest movies ever made (especially because it’s one of the greatest movies ever made) — with an action-fueled romcom set in the present that’s based (loosely) on a 1980s Lee Majors TV show. "The Fall Guy" isn't that good.

But in the same way “The Thin Man” movies were less about solving boozy mysteries and more about the delightful chemistry and rapid-fire quips William Powell and Myrna Loy exchange, “The Fall Guy” is less about rolling cars and jumping out of helicopters and more about enjoying what Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt bring to the situation, which is a truckload of romantic charm.

It’s light, it’s airy, it’s preposterous and it is a lot of fun.

And like “The Thin Man,” there’s even a dog.

What is 'The Fall Guy' based on?

Colt Severs (Gosling) is the stunt double for Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a movie star whose fame is matched only by his arrogance and vapidity. Colt has a romance with Jody Moreno (Blunt), a camerawoman, and seems to be breezing through life until a horrendous accident.

Fast-forward to Colt living alone in a hole of an apartment, working as a car parker for a valet service (a job that does, it must be said, come with all the burritos he can eat). Jody wanted to be there for him, but he couldn’t let her see him broken, helpless. So he just disappeared.

Then, out of the blue, Colt gets a call from Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham), the producer on Tom’s movies. Jody wants him in Australia — where she’s shooting her debut feature, a massive sci-fi action-romance — to tackle some difficult stunts for Tom.

It doesn’t take a lot of convincing, but once he’s there, it’s clear it’s not exactly as Gail portrayed it. Jody didn’t know he was coming, and Tom is missing. Gail wants Colt to find him, though no one else knows this.

Meanwhile, Colt and Jody play around at maybe, just maybe, rekindling their romance. It’s hard to imagine Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” ever put to such good use.

In fact, director David Leitch (“Deadpool 2,” “Bullet Train”), uses music effectively throughout, like in a scene in which Jody is singing Phil Collins' “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” at a karaoke bar Colt’s supposed to show up to, while he is instead fighting for his life in a garbage truck speeding through the streets of Melbourne with thugs trying to kill him. (Leitch does that thing where when he shows Blunt singing we hear her voice, but when he cuts to the Gosling action shots we hear Collins singing the real song. I am a sucker for that every time.)

There are obvious twists and double-crosses. The film becomes increasingly implausible as it goes along. And it doesn’t matter a bit.

The best thing about 'The Fall Guy' is Gosling and Blunt

Leitch, a former stuntman, brings an obviously genuine love for high-wire set pieces to life. We learn something about how stunts are performed and the work that goes into executing them. It’s genuinely impressive. (And stick around for the post-credits scenes.)

But the best thing about the movie is Gosling and Blunt. Is there a more charismatic actor than Gosling working today? He’s got such a goofy likability, charming and funny even while he’s being punched in the face. He’s just effortlessly cool — not in the tough-guy, Steve McQueen way. In the Ryan Gosling way, which is a thing unto itself.

Blunt is, if anything, underrated as a comic actor. Like Gosling, she has an easygoing charm, and she commits to the bit even more than he does. There’s less of a wink-and-a-nod aspect to her performance, but it’s still funny.

Together, though, they’re sort of magical. They’re having fun, bouncing banter off of each other, and it’s infectious. “The Fall Guy” isn’t exactly Oscar bait. Which is fine. Instead, it’s the rare movie that succeeds on its own terms, doing exactly what it sets out to do, which is entertain its audience.

Mission accomplished.

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'The Fall Guy' 4 stars

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Director: David Leitch.

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Rating: PG-13 for action and violence, drug content and some strong language.

How to watch: In theaters Friday, May 3.

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'The Fall Guy' review: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt make it look easy