Directed by Dexter Fletcher (Sunshine on Leith; Wild Bill) and starring Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service; Testament of Youth; Legend), Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables; X-Men; The Prestige; Australia; Prisoners) and Keith Allen (Trainspotting; Shallow Grave; A Film with Me in It; Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London).

Sports comedy drama, 106 mins, 6+, in English.

Based on the true story of Michael Edwards who grabbed the attention and hearts the world over when he represented Great Britain in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.

Nicknamed "Eddie the Eagle", the story tells of Eddie (Taron Egerton) from a young boy who, despite wearing leg braces in his youth, dreamed of being an Olympian thanks to a book that inspired him. He displayed little athletic talent when young, initially trying out track and field athletics, then discovering winter sports and learning to ski on an artificial slope. He was discarded from the tryouts for the Olympic ski team at an aerly stage but then switched his attention to ski jumping, travelling to the German Alps to the main practice area.

While his mother had always been supportive of Eddie and his madcap ideas, his father (Keith Allen) was more reserved, and encraged Eddie to follow him into the construction industry as a plasterer. But while Eddie's emotions and determination ebbed and flowed, his aspirations never faltered. In Germany, he came across Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), a former ski jumper who had the talent but not the dedication and perserverance; Eddie showed him and everyone else that he had the perserverance, but not necessarily the talent. As a result, he won the hearts of millions of sports fans around the world.

Similar in concept to the film Cool Runnings about the Jamacian bob-slew crew; another sports drama about determination and achievement in the face of adversity which, coincidentially, also happened around the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.

A wonderful British drama with many emotional highs and lows, helped by fine acting and directing, cinematography and a superb soundtrack. The scenes of the ski jumping were utterly believable, as were the perceptions of the establishment, adding to the hurdles put in the path of Eddie, whose innocence and infectious personality, as well as his fearlessness, helped him achieve his dreams. A great film for all the family.