Fighting with My Family

United Artists | Release Date: February 14, 2019

7.1	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 133 Ratings

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JLuis_001Mar 4, 2019

It's actually well made but deep down it's nothing but an ordinary inspirational sports and family film.
And if you're not actually into the theme, well I've gotta say that the rest of the enjoyment is mostly up to you.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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MarkHReviewsMar 3, 2019

I couldn’t get past the realization that, ultimately, “Fighting with My Family” is World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE’s) tribute to itself. The film’s Executive Producer is Dwayne Johnson, a WWE alum, with WWE Studios holding a majorI couldn’t get past the realization that, ultimately, “Fighting with My Family” is World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE’s) tribute to itself. The film’s Executive Producer is Dwayne Johnson, a WWE alum, with WWE Studios holding a major producing credit. This lends the film a certain perspective. For example, the viewer learns that WWE is not fake, it is “fictionalized.” One of the secondary characters quietly shares that she has moved on to WWE from modeling to “make things better for my family.” We learn that Johnson, who makes a cameo, rose to superstardom (he’s the best-paid actor in Hollywood) from a humble wrestling family.

The movie is based on the 2012 documentary “The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family” that chronicled the rise of Paige, real name Saraya Bevis, from a low-level professional wrestler in Norwich, England, to a major role in WWE. Early on, we see Paige (Florence Pugh, so compelling in last year’s AMC three-part “Little Drummer Girl”) wrestling before modest local crowds. After a tryout in London, she’s selected to participate in NXT, WWE’s developmental level (I’d like to buy a vowel). While at NXT, she struggles to compete against three physically stronger, more attractive female wrestlers. Life lesson: models and cheerleaders have feelings, too. Paige has a time of doubt and self-reflection. Paige realizes that WWE isn’t just her family’s goal for her, it’s what she wants as well. (I flashed back to Richard Gere’s “I got nowhere else to go” in “An Officer and a Gentleman.”) Paige gets physically stronger, becomes a supportive teammate and embraces her underdog, outsider status. Throughout this process, Vince Vaughn, Paige’s coach, mentor and occasional therapist, tries with occasional success to channel the tough but fair drill sergeant from every military movie ever made.

Just before the closing credits, we are told that Paige is a key leader of the “women’s revolution” at WWE. Oh? How’s that? Nothing in the movie addresses the relative role of women in WWE, good or bad. We’re also informed that Paige remains the youngest-ever Diva’s Champion. If WWE is admittedly scripted, how is this an accomplishment?

“Fighting …” is not without merit. It’s at its best when it focuses on Paige’s eccentric, wrestling-obsessed family. As Paige’s father with a Mohawk, Nick Frost is fabulous. You may remember him as Don in the movie version of “Kinky Boots” (2005) or working with Simon Pegg in “Shaun of the Dead,” (2004) the first rom-zom-com. Lena Headey seems to be enjoying herself as Paige’s mother. Some of the plot is actually sweet, sincere and inspiring. For years, the family has befriended neighborhood kids, offering free wrestling lessons to keep them off the streets and away from drugs. Paige’s brother even mentored a blind boy from the area who eventually became a professional wrestler. Had the film focused here, it could have joined an impressive list of films exploring the British working class experience, beginning with 1947’s “It Always Rains on Sunday” and moving to more current, excellent films like “My Brother the Devil” (2012). “Fighting with my Family” isn’t awful. This is a movie with a good heart and a streak of kind sentimentality. It’s just not terribly original. If you want to explore the biography of someone emerging from modest circumstances to success in a non-traditional field, watch “Billy Elliott.”… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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m15964Jun 11, 2019

This movie is sth that you can't imagine how bad is it, but still lots of people go and watch it. This matter reminds me that how much of stupidity is still exists in a large scale all around the world.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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TVJerryMar 7, 2019

This is based on the true story of a British family that loved to wrestle. They put on exhibition matches around the country, but the dream of the brother and sister was to become WWE champions in America. This starts as a rowdy comedy withThis is based on the true story of a British family that loved to wrestle. They put on exhibition matches around the country, but the dream of the brother and sister was to become WWE champions in America. This starts as a rowdy comedy with enjoyable characters, but once the narrative goes stateside, it becomes an underdog fight drama. The narrative quickly falls into a predictable path and even though it's based on reality, the facts have been compressed, which makes it feel more like a hokey cinematic trope. Still, it's still a heartfelt little film about a loving family and the unlikely success of one of them. Yes, the Rock does have small part (and is a producer).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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ohnomrbillMar 15, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. started out well and was fun up till the girl goes to training and gets mopey and sad etc, its the same movie you have seen many times. of course it picks up again when she is reinspired and then prevails and wins! i was very disappointed because i have seen this a million times. some may find this attractive, i wish i would have waited to see it on tv.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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amheretojudgeMar 4, 2019

Fight. Fight. Fight.

Fighting With My Family Merchant is probably the most authentic filmmaker you would get. Only because, he is a consumer at first. He breathes his fanboy moments onto papers that makes each mundane moment cinematic. HeFight. Fight. Fight.

Fighting With My Family

Merchant is probably the most authentic filmmaker you would get. Only because, he is a consumer at first. He breathes his fanboy moments onto papers that makes each mundane moment cinematic. He makes things look easy, familiar but easy. All his learned and adapted methods, on how to communicate with the viewers, from film itself, gives you a satisfying Friday night out feeling. He is not bringing anything new on the table, but is also smart enough to know what the audience wants and delivers a safe adored content on screen.

Is he taking risks? Probably not. Should he? Definitely not, if this works just fine. All his projects has had the essence of his vocab. The command over the language of Stephen Merchant; the writer-director, is both quirky and heartwarming. He has been selling this ever-working product for ages and it still holds up for its excellent quality. He works on detailings of the moment. Swooping in on all the angles possible, in a situation, he makes sure his world is diplomatic.

He accounts in every angle of a sequence, every perspective of the character, he gives them enough space to justify their deeds. This real life based comedy-drama maps out the tremendous amount of variations or fluctuations, one goes through, when he or she goes "big shot" and fame hits right on the face. Jolting down that very note is where Merchant's target lies. After which the cast brings in their magic in the ring. This eerie mixture of cast is a delight to watch, from their chemistry to their synced body language, they are just simply convincing.

Florence Pugh playing the infamous Saraya Knight or more commonly known as "Paige" has done an excellent work on conjuring the both physical and emotional aspects of her characters. Lena Headey and Nick Frost are protective and fairly negligent parents that we all can easily resonate with. Jack Lowden cloaking on the most complex character is convincing and also a big dose of electric charge when alone in screen, the bar fight is brilliantly shot and performed. Dwayne Johnson has done a great comic cameo where he is set loose with confidence by Merchant and there are no regrets.

Shockingly, Vince Vaughn as the coach of Pugh has much more to give than we would have expected, presumably since he is never sharing the screen with anyone, he is all on his own, brooding and inspiring his past for a better future. As mentioned, all the physical sequences are shot with well choreographed and multiple angle cameras that makes it look more exhilarating and profound of what they call it "fixed but not a fake" fight. The textbook structure of the script never grows into the culprit, it is entertaining even when Merchant is pulling off a montage sequence of the training our protagonist goes through. Fighting With My Family is like a big dinner at Christmas evening, it has few laughs and tears and bickerings, and in the end, is just pure fun.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Mauro_LanariSep 10, 2019

(Mauro Lanari)
Dwayne Johnson tries to get us to take wrestling seriously with a biopic and instead fails as much as his career as a muscular people-pleaser and manages to do worse than Aronofsky ("The Wrestler", 2008).

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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