Checked out the new WWE produced wrestling bio-pic/comedy/sports movie Fighting with My Family. Apparently based on the true story of the female wrestler from England “Paige” (named after the Charmed character). I’m not a fan of professional wrestling through I do respect the athleticism, the dedication, and the hard (and often unappreciated) work the folk in the ring go through. I’ve seen some very harrowing documentaries about these guys and gals… so was curious about this new flick and how it would approach its content.
And this is a surprisingly good movie. The trailers made it look funny – and it is – but it’s also a real drama about someone trying her best to make it… and the people she left behind. It’s as much about the people at home than it is her story and I liked the dichotomy.
So basic premise is that there’s a (real) family in England – Mom, Dad, brother, and sister – who both run a pro wrestling gym and conduct wrestling matches (as a family). The parents have an interesting backstory involving homelessness, armed robbery, etc. and wrestling is their way out of that life. Dad is played by Nick Frost and mom is Lena Heady (Cersie Lannister!). The kids love wrestling, him more than her, and when they get a chance to tryout for the WWE, they jump at it. But only she gets through and that sets up her fish-out-of-water story for her to get signed as a pale-faced, goth British girl in a world where models and dancers are the norm for lady wrestlers.
For a movie that’s about pro wrestling, it doesn’t have a grandiose, over-the-top feel. It takes itself seriously and often has a slow, serious tone. Because the movie isn’t really about pro wrestling so much as its an underdog story. Both the girl who got her chance and the boy who failed and had to stay home. I’m not belittling the wrestling side of it so much as saying you don’t have to even like wrestling to enjoy the movie. I laughed a lot at the jokes but was also moved and was rooting for Paige’s success. She goes through changes – some good and bad – and they were all compelling. It made me genuinely interested in the true story.
A very good element of the film is that it’s produced by WWE Studios (and Dwayne Johnson) but it doesn’t try to pretend wrestling is anything but what it is. The film is upfront that wrestling is fixed… the stories and outcomes are predetermined. But it’s not fake… the wrestlers are performing some dangerous stunts (even if the punches and kicks are often pulled). I appreciated the honesty and would have liked to seen more behind-the-scenes planning. Which makes the final bout interesting because its hard to tell, as a viewer, how much of the action in the ring is real or total kayfabe.
So, yeah, I really enjoyed this movie as a sports film… but really as an underdog/achievement film. It’s funny and it has heart, even if you think pro wrestling is a bad joke. Recommended quite surprisingly highly.
Score: 88