Eddie The Eagle

Eddie the Eagle the ski-jumper, who became the unlikely star of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics by not killing himself, and Eddie the Eagle the film, the feel-good fictionalisation of his journey, are similar beasts; both are a bit rubbish, both fall way short of the mark, and both are a lot of fun to watch.

Part Cool Runnings and part Billy Elliot, Eddie the Eagle shamelessly deploys every inspirational underdog story cliché you can think of: supportive mum but disapproving dad who just wants his son to follow in his footsteps? Check. Washed-up alcoholic former sports star who finds redemption by coaching a determined no-hoper? Check. Training montage? You betcha! It does everything I hate about these kind of films, so why did I enjoy it so much?

Well, for one thing, all the performances are a hoot. Taron Egerton, who shone in Kingsman, is equally adept here, playing Eddie with a perfect blend of innocence and grit; Huge Hackman is as watchable as ever as the grizzled mentor; and the supporting cast, including Keith Allen as the exasperated dad, Tim McInnerny as the pantomime baddie, and the ever-brilliant Jim Broadbent as the BBC commentator, all do their jobs with perfectly controlled goofiness. Everyone seems to be having a lot of fun here, and it’s contagious.