The Fall Guy has been frequently compared to the 2023 hit Barbie, and though this sets an unrealistic expectation, it could give the 2024 film an edge. Leading up to its release, stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt have done a great deal of work promoting the stunt-guy romcom. Since both these actors were prominent figures in last year’s Barbenheimer, it makes sense that these two warring films would be referenced during promotions. However, there are ways in which frequently comparing The Fall Guy to Barbie could create problems that may be hard to balance out with the benefits.
Though the general plotline of The Fall Guy is fundamentally different from Barbie, Gosling’s Ken role has been heavily referenced throughout his promotional tour. In an interview with Screen Rant, the actor noted the similarities between the relationship between his and Blunt’s Fall Guy characters and that of Barbie and Ken. In both movies, Gosling’s character is desperate for the attention of the beautiful girl of his dreams, ultimately leading to an unexpected adventure. Considering the success of Barbie, such comparison make sense. However, these films won’t be in the same league.
There’s Almost No Chance That The Fall Guy Will Be As Successful As Barbie
Comparing The Fall Guy To A Movie Like Barbie Could Be Setting It Up To Fail
There’s a lot to look forward to with The Fall Guy. Following 2023’s Barbenheimer phenomenon, Blunt and Gosling are more famous than ever, and their chemistry during award ceremonies, their appearance on Saturday Night Live, and promotional interviews prove that they are likely to make magic on screen. Moreover, The Fall Guy has a unique enough premise for an action-packed romantic comedy that will appeal to a wide range of audiences. However, the movie is unlikely to stack up to Barbie.
As a comedy, Barbie was something of an enigma. It didn’t perform as well during award seasons, but its box office success, especially within the genre, was off the charts. The 2023 Greta Gerwig film brought in $1.4 billion at the global box office, securing itself as the highest-grossing comedy movie of all time. To put this into perspective, the second highest-grossing comedy is The Hangover Part II (2011), which made $587 million globally. Since Barbie more than doubled this number when it dethroned its predecessor, it’s doubtful that another comedy come close any time soon.
Using Barbie To Promote The Fall Guy Is Still A Smart Move
It Makes Sense To Take Advantage Of Barbie’s Success To Promote Fall Guy
Though there is virtually no chance that The Fall Guy will see the same financial success (or even cultural impact) as Barbie, it makes sense that the 2023 film would be referenced so often during its promotional interviews. Gosling’s role of Ken quickly became iconic, and he will likely be associated with the character for decades. Pretending Barbie never happened while giving interviews about The Fall Guy could do more damage than good since people will want some promise that such quality comedy will continue into other projects.
They will come for Ken but stay for Gosling’s lovable stuntman.
In all, it would be silly not to use the coattails of Barbie‘s success as a launching point for The Fall Guy. While it sets the bar high, especially regarding Gosling’s performance, the 2024 comedy may be of a different enough flavor from the 2023 Mattel movie that any comparisons will quickly fall away once The Fall Guy hits theaters. By making frequent comparisons between the two films, Gosling is sure to inspire audiences to get a ticket. They will come for Ken but stay for Gosling’s lovable stuntman. Of course, this depends on The Fall Guy actually being good.
Could Gosling’s The Fall Guy/Barbie Comparisons Backfire?
The Fall Guy Might Not Be As Good As Barbie, But The Bar Is Still Set High
Whether anyone expects The Fall Guy to perform as well as Barbie, comparing the two films leading up to the former’s release still sets the bar high. Gosling and Blunt are riding on a high from Barbenheimer, but this only means that there is a longer way to fall. There might not have been so much hype for The Fall Guy if it weren’t for the frequent comparisons to 2023’s hits, but this is a double-edged sword.
Another fact to consider is possible Ken burnout.
Another fact to consider is possible Ken burnout. We have had nearly a year of jokes and references, and Gosling has fully leaned into this during his public appearances. His musical monologue on Saturday Night Live even jokingly acknowledged the need to move on (though the actor comically stated that he would never stop being Ken). It’s possible that these endless Barbie references could wear audiences thin, and The Fall Guy could suffer by association. Overall, we will have to wait to see whether these promotional decisions will pay off or backfire.
