Eddie Edwards made history in the 1988 Winter Olympics, becoming the first athlete to ever compete in ski jumping for Great Britain. Doing so when nobody believed he could, after the heartbreak of being cut from the downhill team, and with absolutely no money, Edwards overcame great adversity to fulfill his dream. Through the newly released feel-good comedy “Eddie the Eagle” we are able to follow his journey of incredible determination as he achieved his goal of becoming an Olympian.

Edwards is introduced as a young boy who wears leg braces because of a physical disability. Though slower than others, he stayed positive and was set on becoming an Olympian no matter what the sport may be. When the braces came off, he found he had a knack for skiing and didn’t look back from there.

Edwards was never the best skier, but his hard work and dedication earned him a chance to qualify for the Olympic downhill team. Unfortunately, the Olympic committee wasn’t too fond of Edwards and, thinking he would just make a mockery of the sport, cut him before the tryouts even began.

About to give up, Edwards realized Great Britain didn’t have a ski jumping team, so he decided to form one and become the lone member. Trying to shut him out of the Olympics again, the Olympic committee told Edwards he would have to jump 61 meters in a competition before he would be able to qualify for the games. Never having jumped before, the task seemed impossible to most, but not to Edwards.

Finding a coach and attempting more than 60 jumps a day until he finally hit his mark, Edwards didn’t give up even when crashes left him hospitalized. Solely wanting to take part in the Olympic Games and not caring what color medal he won or didn’t win, Edwards demonstrated that it’s not how you finished that matters, but how you got there.

There have been many underdog sports movies in the last 20 years. From classic dramas like “Remember the Titans” and “Miracle,” to comedies such as “The Water Boy” and “BASEketball,” comeback stories have a way of connecting with people and “Eddie the Eagle” is no exception. Following the true story of an ordinary person who achieved such extraordinary heights, both literally and figuratively, “Eddie the Eagle” captured the complete essence of what it means to be the perpetual underdog.

Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman pair up wonderfully as Edwards and his coach, former Olympic ski jumper Bronson Peary. Egerton does a brilliant job and is extremely likable, while Jackman plays the gruff and drunk outcast that fits his still Wolverine-ish personality. Together, their chemistry worked well and gave the audience a team worth rooting for.

Based on the true story of Edward “The Eagle” Edwards, “Eddie the Eagle,” though similar to most sports movies, is a great feel-good story that really brings out the human spirit. And even though Eddie did not win any medals, his journey is pure gold.