Eddie the Eagle

Writers Sean Macaulay and Simon Kelton and director Dexter Fletcher blithely fictionalize the story of Michael “Eddie” Edwards, the English plasterer who realized a lifelong dream by attending the 1988 Winter Olympics as a ski-jumper. He didn’t win—came in dead last, in fact—but he had the time of his life and captured the indulgent attention of reporters and viewers, especially back home in the U.K. Taron Egerton plays Edwards with boyish, infectious zest, and Hugh Jackman does as an amusing turn as Eddie’s (fictitious) coach. Some hilarious facets of the true story are left out while much is invented, but the movie is an irresistible sports tearjerker. Plus, it gives us an athlete’s-eye-view of ski jumping that makes us understand why Edwards loved doing it. Never underestimate the value of that. J.L.