Eddie Edwards decides to take up the sport of ski jumping, but the British Olympic Association doesn't want him to compete, so he heads to a ski jumping training facility in Germany and begs a boozy ex-Olympian to show him the ropes. Time Warner Cable News film critic Neil Rosen filed the following review.

The story of a Brit, who made his way to the 1988 Olympics as a ski jumper, is the subject of a new biopic called “Eddie the Eagle.”

Ever since he was a little kid, Eddie Edwards dreamed of competing in the Olympics.

But Eddie does not exactly have natural athletic ability. So he decides to take up the sport of ski jumping because England has not had a jumper since 1929. He believes that all he has to do to compete in the games is make a qualifying jump. But the British Olympic Association does not want him to compete.

Undaunted, he heads to a ski jumping training facility in Germany and begs a boozy ex-Olympian, played by Hugh Jackman, to show him the ropes. 

It is a cliched, predictable formula film that plays out like a Disney movie, even though it was made by another studio.

As Eddie, Taron Egerton plays the role as a total innocent. But he is so naive and childlike that his performance is not realistic.

Hugh Jackman fares better and injects some life into the film. But his character is a walking cliche too.

The supporting characters, like his obstinate dad and the villainous British Olympic chairman are also one dimensional. 

On the plus side, the movie is shot quite well, and the ski jumping sequences are quite impressive, and you will feel like you are up in the air with him.

The crash scenes in particular were wild. It reminded me of the old opening of ABC's Wide World Of Sports when they used to show jumpers crashing during the agony of defeat line. Except these are filmed better and you might even gasp out loud.

Because of the hokey approach to this story, I cannot recommend it for adults, but I can give it a pass as a family film. It can be uplifting for kids and teens, telling them to follow their dreams and never give up. The fact that it is based on a true story makes that message stronger, even though the movie Rudy did it much better and with more heart.

Neil Rosen’s Big Apple Rating:

Two Apples