Biker Dad

IDAHO FALLS, ID. (BIKER DAD)— It’s the jump Evel Knievel never could complete. The failure may have haunted Knievel, but his life inspired countless others to try and follow in his footsteps. Now a new film on Disney + chronicles the journey of one of those men.

Eddie Braun met Knievel when he was just a kid. He went on to become one of Hollywood’s premiere stunt doubles, flipping cars and blowing up vehicles in shows like “The Fall Guy.”

Read more below. But first, if you don’t have Disney+ here’s a good way to try it out and get streaming music too:

When Braun learned that someone wanted to attempt that jump again, he knew he was the man for the job. Nearly 42 years after Knievel failed to launch a rocket across Idaho’s Snake River Canyon, Braun hoped to make it happen. Scott Truax’s father built the rocket back then. A parachute came open too early and sent the rocket spiraling into the canyon.

Truax wanted to prove his father’s rocket was not to blame. He still had much of it. After that, the new “rocket man” was determined to succeed where Evel failed.

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The “Stuntman” film chronicles the ups and downs of even getting the project together let alone surviving the stunt. TV networks bought in, then dropped out. Braun had to finance it himself. Clearly a stressful prospect for the husband and father of four who also had to worry about surviving.

The film plays homage to the man who was the hero to most of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s but also doesn’t sugarcoat some of Knievel’s problems. It also puts a new hero in the spotlight who has spent decades standing in for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. This is as Braun contemplates retirement.

I loved the movie and recommend it. It’s another great addition to the already robust Disney+ library. But, don’t take it from me. Another stuntman from right here in Alabama where Biker Dad is based, says it best. Bubba Blackwell just recently hung up his helmet for good and posted about the movie on Facebook, saying in part, “it was a passion project that I got to follow for years, and even got a call to consider piloting… however, he absolutely made the right decision to work with seasoned Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun. In this movie, you get to see two passion-driven men take on the highs and lows of dream chasing… Be prepared to have the crap scared out of you as the best camera footage of any stunt, I’ve ever seen!!!

We won’t spoil how it ends up. But Bubba is right about the footage. You have to watch all the way to the end. You’ll see cameos from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and even Slash from Guns n’ Roses.

If you are an Evel fan, there are a few other movies you should check out. Johnny Knoxville from “Jackass” put together this awesome move a few years back that pulls no punches about the legend’s personal issues.

Biography of the famed motorcycle daredevil, much of which was filmed in his hometown of Butte, Montana. The film depicts Knievel reflecting on major events in his life just before a big jump.

If you prefer to read about his life, check out this book.