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Feb 13, 2019 · Mikey Madison Breaks Out of Her Shell: The soft-spoken actress is winning raves (and Oscar talk) for her turn as a tough-as-nails sex worker in the Palme d’Or-winning film “Anora.”. The Many ...
- Stephen Merchant
Kids say (20 ): This funny, heartfelt movie represents a huge step up for WWE Studios. To date, World Wrestling Entertainment has mostly been a conveyor belt for violent macho fantasies (The Marine through The Marine 6: Close Quarters) and low-bar humor (Santa's Little Helper, Jingle All the Way 2). Fighting with My Family is something totally ...
- Stephen Merchant
- Michael Ordona
- MGM
Feb 19, 2019 · Suffice to say that writer-director Stephen Merchant, a comedy legend for co-creating ‘The Office’, is happy to hit every inspirational beat. More impressively, though, he steers the material ...
- Stephen Merchant
- Joshua Rothkopf
- March 1, 2019
Feb 15, 2019 · Yes, while “Fighting with My Family” boasts a guru-presence cameo by Dwayne Johnson, a whole lot of funny talent performing athletic slapstick, and even some laugh-out-loud shade at Vin Diesel, the key to WWE Studios’ best film yet is the co-creator behind shows like “Hello Ladies” and “The Office.”. Merchant’s mind for sharp ...
- A solid addition to the wrestling movie canon.
- Fighting With My Family Gallery
- Verdict
By Rosie Knight
Updated: Feb 22, 2019 11:38 pm
Posted: Feb 22, 2019 10:00 pm
Fighting With My Family is now playing in wide release.
Hollywood wrestling movies usually fall into two categories: the serious drama of The Wrestler and Foxcatcher, or comedy flicks like King of the Ring and Nacho Libre. Stephen Merchant's supremely enjoyable sophomore directorial offering, Fighting With My Family, is somewhere in the middle of both, though it definitely shares more in common with classic sports movies like Rocky and The Karate Kid as it follows the story of real-life wrestler Paige on her journey to becoming the youngest ever WWE Divas Champion.
Though it is a WWE production that stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Merchant's is very much a British film. There's something magical about the authenticity and realism that Merchant and his stellar cast--including Nick Frost, Lena Headey, and Florence Pugh, who is brilliant as Saraya A.K.A. Paige--bring to the story of a working class family of wrestlers and their daughter's journey to the big time. It helps that the film is based on a 2012 documentary of the same name which gave an unprecedented look at the family, their struggles, and their success. The docu is a great watch and Merchant's film does it justice whilst adding a little Hollywood sheen on the way.
Where some less involved viewers may lose a little interest is when Saraya heads off to bootcamp to train as part of the next generation of WWE wrestlers. For this non-wrestling fan it was an intriguing and entertaining peek behind the curtain filled with strong women and--after a little tropey catfighting--some solid female friendship. The focus on training-heavy sequences may lose some, though Merchant does a good job of cutting back to the more standard indie dramedy of her family members in Norwich who are dealing with their own problems as they get used to the new status quo. Merchant is excellent at keeping the realities of the family's life at the forefront--Saraya's father (Nick Frost) was a bankrobber and her mother (Lena Headey) is an ex-addict--without ever being judgemental or losing the humor that holds the film together.
If you're a wrestling fanatic, there are plenty of treats for you. That includes a bit part from Johnson, who also exec-produced, as well as cameos from Big Show, and Seamus. (Correction: Thea "Zelina Vega" Trinidad plays AJ Lee, in a recreation of her iconic match with Paige that saw the young British wrestler take the Divas title to become the youngest women's champion in the history of the WWE.) At its heart, Fighting With My Family is a feel-good film and it definitely delivers on that front. Though it does verge on schmaltzy at times, Merchant's dedication to keeping a level of grit and realism, alongside a great cast, makes this a thoroughly enjoyable flick no matter what your interest in The One True Sport.
Fighting With My Family delivers on comedy, action, and a sweet message of acceptance and strength at its core. It might be a bit too wrestling-heavy for some, but the strong cast, interesting real life story, and a magnetic lead mean this black sheep sports story is a feel-good flick with chops that might finally put WWE Studios on the map.
- Rosie Knight
Feb 13, 2019 · Ultimately, Fighting with My Family is a well-worn and appreciable Hollywood Cinderella story, yet one with jet black hair and a pierced lip. (And also one blessedly free of any mandated love interest
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Fighting with My Family is a 2019 biographical sports comedy-drama film written and directed by Stephen Merchant. Based on the 2012 documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family by Max Fisher, it depicts the career of English professional wrestler Paige as she makes her way to WWE , while also following her brother Zak Zodiac , as he struggles with his failure to achieve similar success.
