EDDIE THE EAGLE

UK, 2016, 106 minutes, Colour.
Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Jo Hartley, Keith Allen, Tim Mc Inerney, Mark Benton, Christopher Walken, Jim Broadbent.
Directed by Dexter Fletcher.

There’s nothing like a sports film to get the adrenaline pumping, to rouse the spirit, to affirm human qualities and talent – in others and in ourselves.

There are two main kinds of sports film, one the story of a champion, background, skills, challenges and training, achievement; the other is the story of the underdog who, despite all odds, triumphs. Michael Edward Edwards, who received the nickname of Eddie the Eagle from supporters at Calgary, has to be one of the most underdog of underdogs. Sharing in his life, in his impossible dreams, in his persistence and determination, and his achievement, is one of those cinema feel good experiences.

Back in the 1970s, when Eddie was a very fragile young lad, even spending a year in hospital with wonky knees, somehow or other, he got it into his head that he wanted to go to the Olympic Games – all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding, and there is a great deal of evidence of his awkwardness and lack of skills. Then, one day it dawned on him that he wanted to go to the Winter Olympics and that he will ski.

While his mother is forbearing, his father, a workman plasterer, has no times for Eddie’s aspirations. Nevertheless, Eddie seems fairly oblivious to what seemed to be obvious, very obvious difficulties and, while at school, he does actually achieve something in skiing and win some trophies.

Full of seemingly baseless self-confidence, off he goes to a ski resort in Germany, no connections, sleeping in a cupboard and, fortunately, being given a job and some hospitality by a restaurant owner. He tries out some of the jumps, with varying success, to the mockery of the champion Nordics skiers and the wry observations of former champion, Bronson Peary, Hugh Jackman, stubbled, alcoholic, but, as always with Hugh Jackman, a very nice person underneath.

While this particular story is original insofar as there are not so many sports films about skiers, the rest of the film goes mostly according to predictions: terrible falls and injuries, renewed determination, the challenge of Peary, the mockery of fellow jumpers, and the continued acerbic criticism of the British Olympic Ski Association. He perseveres and perseveres; there are quite a lot of training sessions with Peary, which do indicate that Eddie did quite a lot of training and practice, learning some skills, readying himself for the jumps.

He wants to get a qualification that will allow him to go to the Winter Olympics in Calgary in 1988 – despite the British Association. We know that he will succeed otherwise they would not have made a film about Eddie. But, it is the exhilarating experience he had in Calgary, not great jumps but the fact that he did them, and an excited response which endeared him to the crowds and commentators and to dead to do the 90 metre jump.
Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, is quoted that winning is not everything but participating years – and it is the value of the struggle.
Christopher Walken is heard early in the film and appears at the end, Peary’s former coach who had despaired of him but who comes to acknowledge him and Eddie’s achievement.

The film obviously climaxes on a high – and in the credits, the director acknowledges Eddie and his family. Actually, the film provides an enormous commercial for drinking milk and probably will attract a lot of viewers to skiing and future Winter Olympics.

1. Based on a true story? The 1970s and 1980s? Sport? The United Kingdom?

2. The British tone, emphasis on sport, achievement, the Olympics?

3. The title, Eddie Edwards and 1988, his jump, his performance with wings, the crowd response, the commentators?

4. An underdog film? Eddie as the least likely success? His initial ambitions, the Olympics, talking about them, running away from home at a young age, his father collecting him in the van? His being oblivious to criticisms? The year in hospital for his knees? The various sports, hurdles, weights, his falling? The box of broken spectacles?

5. Growing up, the possibilities for skiing, his success, trophies?

6. His father, work as a plasterer, wanting his son with him? A gawky young lad, loner, no girlfriends?

7. His decision to go to Germany, his eagerness, naivete? Arrival, asking advice of the competitors from Scandinavia, their reactions? Sleeping in the cupboard, Petra helping him, giving him the job, her friendship? The initial accounts encounters with Peary, his truck, jokes, advice, his work?

8. His doing the jumps, the Scandinavian reaction? In the sauna? His clothes, new skis?

9. His talking with Peary, his character, his coach’s book and the voice-over? Perary’s story with his coach? On the team, drinking, the years passing, in Germany, his jobs? The Scandinavian saying he was a disgrace?

10. Eddie clicking with Peary, the bond, the detailed sequences of training, exercises? The attempts at jumping?

11. The British Association, the personnel, critique, mockery, wanting him away?

12. His successful jump, belonging to the British team, travelling, the number of jumps, no British competitors therefore his results as records? Qualifying?

13. His mother and father, his taking the van, travelling with Peary?

14. Peary, the clash with the Scandinavians, the knockout in the fight? His going to the top, his successful jump and their admiration?

15. Eddie qualifying, the association changing the rules? His various attempts at jumping, injuries, in hospital, determination?

16. His going to Calgary, the talking with the Finnish champion, his jump, coming last but his excitement and the response of the crowds? The association not impressed? His carry on, the reactions, the commentators? The other skiers, their leading him on, getting him to drink – rather than his usual milk? His not participating in the opening march?

17. The broadcaster, the commentary, the favourable reviews? The crowds? The press conferences, his secret conference, contrasting with the poor conferences of the better skiers?

18. His determination to do the 90 metre jump, seeing Peary’s coach on the television, Peary hearing it? Peary coming to Calgary, encouraging Eddie, going up the slope, the tension waiting, his decision, the jump, his personal best and a record for Britain? The coach coming and giving his praise to both Peary and to Eddie, writing praise in the copy of his book?

19. The triumphant return, his parents, the crowds, the media – an inspirational story?