r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • 15d ago
Official Discussion Official Discussion - The Stunt Driver [SPOILERS] Spoiler
Poll
If you've seen the film, please rate it at this poll
If you haven't seen the film but would like to see the result of the poll click here
Rankings
Click here to see the rankings of 2025 films
Click here to see the rankings for every poll done
The Stunt Driver
Summary
The film chronicles the daredevil stuntman Ken Carter's quest to execute a bold stunt of launching a rocket car across the St. Lawrence River from Canada to the United States in the 1970s, facing absurd challenges along the way.
Director Michael Dowse
Writer Michael Dowse
Cast
- Jay Baruchel as Ken Carter
- Ed Helms as Dick Keller
- Ben Foster as Evel Knievel
- Laurence Leboeuf as Gloria
- Joe Cobden as Bob Fortier
- Marc Beaupré as Danny Lafortune
- Dan Bakkedahl as Bill Wilkins
- Noah Labranche as Seamus
Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
Metacritic: 60
VOD / Release In theaters — September 25, 2026
Trailer Official Trailer
48
u/braumbles 15d ago
I really enjoyed this. I read a review after that basically said Jay's ability to portray this man without making fun of him is a great achievement. And I agree. This is probably Baruchel's best acting job. It's got some genuinely funny moments and some really sad and depressing ones.
-32
12
u/BallinBrown23 13d ago
“If you dare me, I’ll devil”
If you didn’t know anything about Ken Carter, you still knew exactly how this movie was going to end. But that doesn’t stop you from wishing for a happier ending. Jay is such an underrated actor, who knew that kid from Popular Mechanics for Kids would go this far. I love his little quips during conversations, especially when he is mad. But then he steals the show when he is emotional.
The drama leading up the River jump,caused me to sweat and sit at the edge of my seat. The clips of the real Ken Carter at the end of the film were beautiful to see as well.
The world needs more stunt people, I wish Evil was in a little bit more because I loved their friend/enemies relationship.
There is no pride in dying
20
u/JesseKilgannon 15d ago
I’ve always been a Baruchel fan and he was incredible in this. I legit cried. You can feel the love for the subject matter throughout the entire thing.
7
10
u/_GeorgeBailey_ 15d ago
"Pleasure to meet you."
"I bet it is."
I wish I was brave enough to use that line in real life.
13
u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? 15d ago
This was pretty damn good, honestly. It's funny and insane but it also has an impressive amount of heart to it. My screening was definitely bolstered by seeing this in Toronto at the premiere but, man, there's just clearly a lot of love in this. Easily Jay's best performance. He was really tuned into the reality of this guy, both with his gung ho attitude in the beginning and with how truly scared he got when it got too real. I was impressed with his range.
There is also real regret in those final scenes, regret that he never got to pull it off and that he has to know every day that it's because he got cold feet. Would he have actually done it if given more time? Would he have survived? Could he have actually pulled it off? He will never know and after five years of documented build up you really feel how that takes its toll on him. Really can't say enough about Jay's performance. 7/10 for me!
2
u/Staudly 12d ago
I really enjoyed this. Jay Baruchel gives a great performance. I went in mostly blind, only knowing about the rocket car jump because the video of the failed attempt had been circulating the internet since the pre-youtube era. Made me a Ken Carter fan.
Also cool: every stunt in the movie was archival footage of Carter's real jumps. They filmed some interior car shots, but all the jumps were the real life occurrence.
1
u/reecord2 11d ago
I went in having no idea what this movie was and really enjoyed it. Ed Helms is excellent in a pretty serious role, I felt for his character the entire time, what a crazy circus he had to navigate. Ben Foster as Evel Knievel threads the needle so well between having an ego but still making you like him. The conversation between him and Jay in the garage is perfectly played. Overall a very unique movie.
34
u/StrLord_Who 15d ago
Not at all the feel-good movie I expected from the trailer, but an interesting story with an excellent lead performance. Ben Foster is phenomenal as always. I wanted so badly for Ken to succeed. Jay Baruchel manages to really tug at the viewer's heartstrings and get you to root for this man. I wish I could tell Mr Carter that I genuinely found his passion and dedication inspiring.