Eddie the Eagle Blu-Ray Review: Inspirational True Tale Soars!

The inspiring true story of Eddie the Eagle has come home on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Eddie the Eagle was born Eddie Edwards, and he was the most unlikely of people who would grow up to become an Olympic hero. But, that is exactly what he did. Edwards beat the odds and became an Olympic ski jumper for his native Great Britain at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games… and even set a national record in the process! Sure, he finished last, but his determination and wide-eyed innocent demeanor enamored him to not only his home country, but to the world at large.

In Eddie the Eagle, The Kingsman’s Taron Egerton stars as the man himself and through the actor’s incredible performance, we get to see the struggle and emotional turmoil he faced in climbing the mountain (literal and figuratively) that was his dream. His entire life he wanted to be an Olympic athlete, but unfortunately sports as a whole was not his strong suit. Upon learning that his country didn’t have plans to field a ski jumping team, he found a loophole in the qualifying methods and sought out to tackle the dangerous sport to achieve his dreams.

Eddie the Eagle paints a picture of pure determination and audiences will find it incredibly inspiring, as we stated further in our theatrical Eddie the Eagle review.

Egerton is astounding in the role, and even gets the facial gestures and body movements of the most unlikely Olympic hero down pat. Matching him note for note is Hugh Jackson, a fictionalized version of Edwards’ coach. Jackson is an American skier, who never met his aptitude with success, and through Eddie the Eagle, he sees a chance at redemption. The character is an interesting and fascinating addition to the story of the real life skier, and on the screen, it adds so much to the process that will have you cheering by its conclusion.

Director Dexter Fletcher is another reason this story is sensational. It could have gotten lost in a swatch of cheese and sentimentality. Yet, it feels as crisp as the winter air at the top of a… well, ski slope! Fletcher also scored huge by having a score that reflected the time. Yup, it’s all synthesizers and it’s awesome.

When it comes to Eddie the Eagle bonus features on the DVD and Blu-Ray, they are gold medal worthy. Let The Games Begin: Soaring with Eddie the Eagle is a just over 46-minute documentary that looks at the making of the film, which are highlighted by interviews with Jackman and Egerton, as well as Fletcher and his team. The behind-the-scenes clips show the astounding attention to detail all involved paid to make sure they got this story right. After all, one never gets a second chance to do a biopic!

All or Nothing: The Hero’s Heart is a close look at the man behind the myth, Eddie Edwards. If the film itself finds you inspired, just wait until you meet the real man. He is the picture of determination and grit and it’s easy to see how he still inspires decades after he set the skiing world on fire.

Another fascinating bonus feature is Attitude is Altitude. The film doesn’t work unless we the audience feel the power of the ski jumps. It’s one of the most dangerous sports on the planet and for Eddie the Eagle to work, it was imperative that the story convey that. This bonus feature takes us into the process of finding the best ski jumping facilities to film at, as well as how they orchestrated each jump with camera angles and the like to ensure the audience had a front row seat to the soaring majesty of the sport.

And although it was fictionalized, the relationship between Eddie and his coach is the heartbeat of the movie. How that was achieved, from script to screen, is impeccably captured in An Unlikely Friendship: Eddie & Peary. Don’t miss it. Frankly, that’s how we feel about Eddie the Eagle in general!

Film: B+
Bonus Features: B