Cocktail and Movie Pairing: Spicy Margaritas and Bad Decisions
“God, I hate that thumbs up stunt guy stuff.”
We had some very exciting news from the Academy yesterday… The first Academy Award for Stunt Design will be awarded at the 100th Academy Awards in 2028! In celebration of the movie (and the director) that champions the work of stunt people, let’s take a look at The Fall Guy (2024) with spicy margaritas in hand.
The Fall Guy (2024) is based on a hit TV show from the 80s with a similar premise. Veteran stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) hits it off with camera operator Judy Moreno (Emily Blunt) on the set of the latest action movie starring Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). When Colt experiences a potentially career-ending injury on the set of that movie, he ghosts Judy and works as a valet at a Mexican restaurant with no intention of returning to stunt work. Things change when producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) appears out the blue, telling Colt that Tom Ryder needs him in Sydney as a stunt double on Judy’s first feature film as a director… in 24 hours. The plot gets even more complicated when Tom is revealed to be missing, Judy doesn’t realize that Colt is working on the film, and Gail has her own intentions for getting the film made. What results is a madcap, stunt-filled adventure that is just as funny as it is referential to the greatest stunt work put to film.
As many of you will remember, this is one of
’s favorite movies from last year. We saw this in theaters on opening weekend, and by the time we arrived home from the movie theater, Enrico had already ordered his new favorite jacket.
Film industry vets and cinephiles of all persuasions will appreciate the love letter to #setlife. There’s a lot of heart and appreciation for all types of movies, from the Mission: Impossible movies to Greta Gerwig’s famous pink jumpsuit from the Barbie (2023) set to stuntman-turned-director David Leitch’s filmography. The “safety first” philosophy permeates the script and the general vibe of the movie - it’s something that feels authentic to what happens on set, and the work-hard-play-harder attitude is what gives the movie its sense of swagger.
Ryan Gosling is at his comedic best as Colt Seavers (the Academy Award nominee-to-playing a stunt person pipeline is real). The more unhinged the plot gets, the less guarded Gosling performs. And with an excellent scene partner in Emily Blunt, who has proven time and again that she’s a physical comedienne with a brilliant sense of timing? Chemistry up the wazoo. A slough of great supporting performances build the world of the movie set to the band of unlikely heroes that it is, from Hannah Waddingham as the producer who mainlines Diet Coke like it’s her job, to Winston Duke as the stunt designer/unofficial set hype man, to Aaron Taylor-Johnson and his creepy faux McConaughey impression (only to be out-creeped by the copious Post-Its).
Summer blockbusters have always felt this fun, but not all of them pay tribute to the industry that made the summer blockbuster so successful. If you haven’t already seen this gem of a film, now is a great time to catch up on The Fall Guy and all the movies that inspired it.
Which leads me to the ultimate pairing. You didn’t think I would neglect the spicy margaritas, did you?
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Spicy margaritas function as a plot point in the movie, but they are also just as refreshing and titillating as the movie itself. Everyone has their own spicy margarita recipe, and if you have one you like, by all means keep drinking it. This is my recipe that answers the question, “What would Colt Seavers put together if he knew that Judy Moreno was coming to his trailer looking for spicy margaritas and he had absolutely zero time to grocery shop?”.
The Stuntman’s Spicy Margarita
Serves 2
Ingredients
One packet LMNT Mango Chili Electrolyte Powder
12 ounces cold water
3 ounces tequila (I generally prefer reposado, but use what you’ve got, even if it’s an old wrap gift that’s been collecting dust in your trailer)
1 barspoon agave syrup (optional)
Preparation
Combine LMNT powder with the cold water and a little crushed ice. Add tequila and optional agave syrup, and shake. (Bonus points if you use a shaker bottle for this.)
Pour over a rocks glass with a big ice cube. Tajín rim optional, but encouraged if Judy happens to have a bottle of Tajín in her purse.
The Sober Filmmaker’s Mocktail Version
Omit the tequila, or substitute Ritual’s Non-Alcoholic Tequila Alternative. Same preparation as above.
You can find a list of ingredients for The Stuntman’s Spicy Margarita on my Benable recommendations here.
The Fall Guy (2024) is now available on your favorite PVOD platform. It is also available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray, and DVD wherever physical media is sold. Thank you for supporting your local independent physical media outlets!