Eddie the Eagle 2016

     This film is inspired by true events.  Eddie the Eagle is about Michael “Eddie” Edwards and he lives with his parents in Britain.  He wants to become a ski jumper and he never stops believing in himself.  He receives help from a rebellious and charismatic coach.  The entire nation is counting Eddie out but Eddie takes on the establishment and he ultimately wins the hearts of sports fans.  He makes a historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. 

      Eddie started dreaming about the Olympics when he was 10 years old in 1973.  His mother encouraged his dreams but his father believed they were impossible.  Eddie had no money, no coach at the start of training, no equipment, no team and he had never competed in the ski jumping event.  Despite all the drawbacks, Eddie could not give up!!  He managed to shatter the unofficial British 70-meter record.  It was noted that the previous mark was set in the 1920’s and could have been calculated with a standard tailor’s tape measure??  This film is crazy at times but it’s worth watching!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)    

106 min, Bio directed by Dexter Fletcher with Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Tom Costello, Jo Hartley Keith Allen Dickon Tolson, Mark Benton, Tim McInnerny, Edvin Endre, Marc Benjamin, Iris Berben, Rune Temte, Carlton Bunce, Mads Pettersen.

Note:  Imdb 7.4 out of 10, 80% critic 82% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 1 ½*, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 1008 reviews, Empire Online 4* out of 5*, Rolling Stone 2* out of 4* Peter Travers.

Special Note:  Filmed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstdorf, Bavaria, Germany; Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire and Bracknell Ski Slope, England, UK; Seefeld, Tirol, Austria.  The real-Life Eddie was warned by BBC news that this movie was 90% made up and 10-15% was based on his real life.  Eddie underwent excruciatingly painful and difficult training and preparation for the Olympics.  He slept in his car, in cowsheds and in a mental hospital.  He was scraping food out of bins and thinking the next jump could be his last!!  The movie didn’t show how bad it really was!!  In 1992, Eddie declared bankruptcy and he studied law at De Monfort University in Leicester.  After he received his degree, he became a sports agent.