Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
![]() |
Tom Costello | ... | Eddie (10 years old) |
Jo Hartley | ... | Janette | |
Keith Allen | ... | Terry | |
![]() |
Dickon Tolson | ... | UK Doctor |
![]() |
Jack Costello | ... | Eddie (15 years old) |
Taron Egerton | ... | Eddie Edwards | |
Mark Benton | ... | Richmond the BOA Official | |
Tim McInnerny | ... | Dustin Target | |
Edvin Endre | ... | Matti Nykänen | |
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen | ... | Erik Moberg (as Mads Pettersen) | |
Marc Benjamin | ... | Lars Holbin | |
Iris Berben | ... | Petra | |
Rune Temte | ... | Bjørn the Norwegian Coach | |
Hugh Jackman | ... | Bronson Peary | |
![]() |
Carlton Bunce | ... | Old Jumper |
Inspired by true events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good story about Michael "Eddie" Edwards (Taron Egerton), an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself - even as an entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach (played by Hugh Jackman), Eddie takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. From producers of Kingsman: The Secret Service, Eddie the Eagle stars Taron Egerton as Eddie, the loveable underdog with a never say die attitude. Written by 20th Century Fox
I've seen some sport films through the years but I've actually never seen one about ski jumping. Eddie the Eagle is the truth based story of the British ski jumper Michael "Eddie" Edwards who participated in the 1988 Olympic winter games in Calgary, Canada. Eddie has since childhood, dreamed of becoming an Olympic participant. When he gets older and is denied to compete in downhill skiing by the British committee, he decides to try ski jumping instead. The problem is that the Olympic games is one year away and Eddie has never before in his life tried ski jumping. The incredibly charming Taron Egerton plays Eddie the Eagle and Hugh Jackman also takes part as the drunken American ex pro jumper Bronson Peary.
Classic underdog stories always works well within the sport genre and really are a well played card by now. And yet there is something with the story about Eddie that grabs hold of me. Nobody believes in him, he is odd and rather strange. Despite dealing with all the resistance and sometimes humiliation, he never gives up. The thing that also really keeps me interested is the ski jumping. I have always found that sport pretty funny, but I now seriously have to confess that I would never dare to jump that high with skis on. Hugh Jackman's mentor character is actually very cliché and perhaps a bit exaggerated. They should probably have toned him down to add a little more realism in the story.
According to the filmmakers the story is really not that truthful, especially not the parts about Eddie Edward's life outside of ski jumping. His result and what happened to him is however not changed that much, but besides that much of the story is made for film. I really don't think that's a problem. I rank Rocky as my favorite sport film and it is because I think that the ultimate sport film needs an underdog story. It is actually the same thing here in Eddie the Eagle. A struggle for the little man and a display with an encouragement to never give up. Perhaps well needed in our sometimes dark world.
David Lindahl - www.filmografen.se