“Eddie the Eagle” is one of the nicest surprises of the year so far. It’s formulaic and unashamedly manipulative, but it’s played with sincerity by the entire cast and, against all odds, it works. It’s the true story of Michael “Eddie” Edwards, a Brit “athlete” with no particular talent, who went on to compete at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. How? You’ll have to see for yourself. But I can tell you that under Dexter Fletcher’s direction, the story almost never misses a beat, with fully committed performances by Taron Edgerton as Eddie and Hugh Jackman as his unlikely trainer. Basically if you’re a sucker for a story involving an underdog and his quest to achieve the impossible, you’ll definitely surrender to “Eddie The Eagle”. Personally, I can’t remember the last time I cheered as much as I did while watching this crowd-pleaser. It’s a winner in my book.

Rating: 3/4