Eddie the Eagle

Encapsulating almost perfectly the definition of "feel good," "Eddie the Eagle" was an early year gem that blended commercial entertainment, effortless charm and an inspiring underdog story into a product of undeniable pleasure. With a genuine heart and soul at its core, 'Eagle' tells the story of Michael "Eddie" Edwards, who took the 1988 Winter Olympics by storm as an underdog ski jumper with an unrivaled tenacity for following his dreams. With his overbite and coke bottle glasses, Taron Egerton brings an exceptionally dopey magnetism to the real-life character, while Hugh Jackman delivers a well-rounded performance as Eddie's mentor and former ski jumper, Bronson Peary.

The Blu-ray release brings this exciting and emotionally involving story home to viewers, with grand-looking visuals highlighted by the ski jumping sequences and wintry landscapes, as well as excellent sound work that is driven mainly on a fantastic, 80s-inspired score by Matthew Margeson. Thankfully, the 46 minutes or so of bonus features-divided into a handful of featurettes-tap into these elements, as well as some of the film's stronger aspects. Hearing Margeson talk about the inspiration behind the film's electro-meets-inspirational music is a delight, while director Dexter Fletcher is always enthusiastic about the project while discussing it on camera. From watching the features, it's clear that the production was a blast for everyone involved.

It was also likely an exhilarating one, highlighted by the disc's best bonus feature, "Attitude is Altitude," which meticulously goes into the shooting of the film's many riveting ski jump sequences. Fletcher and other crew members had to grapple with the task of filming something that is essentially the same motion over and over again, while always making it new and visually exciting. Those who have seen the film know that the creative team certainly achieved in these regards, but watching how it all was accomplished is a rare treat. Seeing a camera rig on skis propelling down a jump filled me with a special type of joy. These are moments of the production process not often discussed, and it's wonderful to see them talked about in detail here.

Other highlights include Fletcher discussing the casting/chemistry of pairs like Egerton and Jackman, or Jo Hartley and Keith Allen, who play Eddie's parents. Overall, the bonus features capture the action and emotion of a movie that's certainly fueled by these two specific elements. Like the film itself, it's a sheer delight.

"Eddie the Eagle"
Blu-ray/DVD/HD
$15.00
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