The WWE is one of the most dominating entertainment
companies in the world today. What began as a small territorial wrestling
promotion has developed into the largest wrestling promotion in the world. Not
only do they handle championship wrestling on a near nightly basis they’ve
moved into movies as well. If you don’t believe that look at the career of
Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock. But movies that tell the life stories of wrestlers
aren’t that common. That changes with FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY.
In 2002 young Zak and Saraya Knight argue over what to
watch, a WWF pay per view or CHARMED. While wrestling in the living room to
decide their parents, Ricky (Nick Frost) and Julia (Lena Headey), come in and
rather than stop the fight correct their holds. Ricky is a wrestler and
promoter of his own promotion. As the children grow they work in the ring
alongside their parents with Zak (Jack Lowden) dreaming of the day he can join
the WWE. Sister Saraya (Florence Pugh) dreams of being their alongside her
older sibling.
An opportunity presents itself when the WWE is set for a
show in the UK. Zak and Saraya show up to try out under the watchful eye of
Hutch Morgan (Vince Vaughan). Since they already have a Britani in the WWE
Saraya must change her name and choose Paige after one of the characters from
CHARMED. Things run smooth and the pair think they stand a good chance of
getting in. But it is only Saraya that is chosen. When she refuses to go
without Zak he convinces her that this is the dream the family has had for years
and she agrees.
Saraya now Paige shows up in Florida for the WWE’s NXT
promotion, a lower level wrestling promotion that grooms wrestlers for the main
event in the WWE. She’s not like the other female wrestlers, nearly all leggy
blonde models. But at 18 she’s young and ready to go and has more in the ring
experience than any of them combined.
Being different, being the odd one out, Paige doesn’t make
friends and it isn’t long before her disdain for their abilities shows causing
more conflict within the group. Hutch pushes her, seeing something there that
many would not.
Back home Zak has hit rock bottom. A new father and husband,
his dreams crushed, watching his sister’s star rise he’s torn between family
loyalty and jealousy over her chance at success. Ricky and Julia aren’t much
better seeing Paige’s rise not as something that she herself wanted but more
what they wanted for themselves when they were younger as well as her being
able to help promote their own business now.
As the grind gets to her Paige begins to wonder if this is
what she’s meant for. Are the dreams of being a WWE champion really hers or are
they the dreams her family wanted? Can she handle not just the physical aspects
of being a professional wrestler but the emotional ones as well?
The movie is one of the most entertaining flicks I’ve seen
this year. I was truly surprised by it. Not only did it tell the real life
story of a WWE star (well as real as any biopic can be) but it did it with
heart as well. You don’t have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this movie (though
it probably helps). More than anything though I found myself laughing out loud
(yes really!) more than once while watching the film. It delivers on so many
levels. Superficial, probably but always entertaining.
All actors here do a fantastic job of bringing what could
have been cardboard cutout figures to life. Their hopes and dream can be felt,
their goals achieved and crushed bring joy and pain and each one of them ties
into the other to make this a movie not just about the star but the entire
family. Not an easy task to achieve and yet they do.
WWE stars like Dwayne Johnson, The Miz, Sheamus and Big Show
also make appearances in the film and Johnson was also one of the producers for
the film. WWE movies have been all over the place from good to bad. This is a
good one and worth watching.
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