Courtney Howard // Film Critic
We all love sports stories about true underdogs, right?! Well, there’s never been anyone quite like the guy at the heart of EDDIE THE EAGLE. Taron Egerton (KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE) stars in the cute movie with tons of gumption and heart that was inspired by true events.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
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. Eddie the Eagle stars Taron Egerton as Eddie, the loveable underdog with a never say die attitude.
So who is this dude at the center of it all?
According to Wikipedia, the real Eddie Edwards “became famous as an example of an underdog or “heroic failure”, and of perseverance and achievement without funding.” His lack of success is what endeared him to audiences; the worse he did, the more fervent his fanbase. In 1990, the “Eddie the eagle Rule” was established, which “requires Olympic hopefuls to compete in international events and be placed in the top 30 percent or the top 50 competitors, whichever is fewer.” While he competed in the 1988 Olympics, and try as he might to return to the Games, he failed to qualify for subsequent games. He was, however, a torchbearer in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Plus, he recorded two songs in Finnish – despite not speaking the language.
AND competed on BBC1’s Let’s Dance For Sport Relief.
EDDIE THE EAGLE opens on February 26.
