Review of Fighting with My Family (2019) by Markhreviews — 03 Mar 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 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.