Jay Baruchel plays Ken Carter, the Canadian daredevil known as “The Mad Canadian,” in The Stunt Driver, a comedy about the rivalry between two men who spent their lives leaping cars across chasms. The film, directed by Michael Dowse, follows Carter as he sets his sights on a stunt so ambitious, most people—including his rival Evel Knievel—said it could not be done.
Carter is a tall, hardheaded man with an antiquated brand of masculinity and a reckless fondness for death-defying antics. He dreams of besting Knievel’s ill-fated river jump by soaring a custom-built rocket car over the St. Lawrence River, flying from the Canadian side and landing in the States, about a mile away from the launch ramp. The film confronts Carter with something he has never quite faced before: a fear that the stunt would go wrong.
Carter’s Rise and the Rocket Car
The Stunt Driver is a biopic inspired by the real-life Carter, who made a career out of jumping cars and breaking bones. He worked his way up the ranks as a tried-and-true stuntman. His wife Gloria, played by Laurence Leboeuf, has concerns about his career.
Dick Keller, played by Ed Helms, reluctantly develops the rocket car despite his initial hesitation. Carter pushes past everyone’s doubts, forging ahead with his attempt to beat his Yankee rival.
The Rivalry Between Two Men
The film draws on a real historical rivalry between Carter and Knievel. Their competition spanned years of stunts, each man trying to outdo the other with ever more daring feats. The Stunt Driver captures that energy, turning the rivalry into a fun ride of reckless ’70s energy and macho posturing.
A Fearful Confrontation
Toward the end of his run, Carter set his sights on a feat so wildly ambitious, most people—including Knievel—said it could not be done. But stubborn and foolhardy as Carter was, he is confronted in this film with something he’s never quite faced before: a fear that the stunt would go wrong.
The film’s central tension comes from Carter’s refusal to listen to the voices telling him to stop. Gloria, his wife, represents those voices. She watches her husband’s career with concern, knowing that each leap brings him closer to disaster.
A Warmhearted Comedy
The Stunt Driver is a warmhearted comedy, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing. The film is charming, capturing the reckless energy of its era. Its tone is light, but its subject matter is serious. Carter’s fear of failure is a genuine emotional core, even if the film doesn’t fully land on it.
The film’s comedic elements come from the absurdity of its premise. A rocket car over the St. Lawrence River is a stunt that defies logic.
A Compelling Cast
Baruchel delivers a strong performance as Carter, capturing the man’s hardheaded determination and his reckless fondness for death-defying antics. Helms brings a grounded, reluctant quality to Keller, the engineer who builds the rocket car despite his misgivings. Leboeuf rounds out the cast as Gloria, Carter’s wife, whose concern for her husband drives much of the film’s emotional weight.
Key Facts Box
– Director: Michael Dowse
– Lead actor: Jay Baruchel as Ken Carter
– Supporting actors: Ed Helms as Dick Keller, Laurence Leboeuf as Gloria
– Rival: Evel Knievel
– Stunt: Rocket car over the St. Lawrence River
– Setting: The ’70s
Cast, From Star To Sidekick
1. Jay Baruchel as Ken Carter, the titular Stunt Driver
2. Ed Helms as Dick Keller, the reluctant engineer
3. Laurence Leboeuf as Gloria, Carter’s concerned wife
4. The film’s other supporting characters fill out the world of stunts
5. The rivalry between Carter and Knievel runs through the film’s plot
The Stunt Driver is a film that celebrates a real-life Canadian daredevil’s rivalry with Knievel. It is a warmhearted comedy that captures the reckless energy of its era. The film’s central tension—the fear of failure—gives it an emotional core, even if it doesn’t fully explore it.
The film is worth watching for its performances, its setting, and its subject matter. It is a tribute to a man who dared greatly, even if it doesn’t fully capture the depth of his courage.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
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