Review of Fighting with My Family (2019) by Hnestlyonthesly — 07 Oct 2019

Fighting With My Family, a film produced by lord of the box office Dwayne Johnson and written by the talented Stephen Merchant, is a fish out of water story with a twist: where normally the outcast, “freak,” responds to ostracism and hazing by rising above, Saraya imagines conflict between others and herself, misunderstands their motives because of her own insecurities. There are a number of wonderful moments of suspicion that display this split screen moment of both high drama and mundanity (in a way that’s somewhat reminiscent of bedroom scenes from Eighth Grade). Florence Pugh, who plays the star role, seems at ease in an wonderful departure from her debut a few years back in the erotic, historical thriller Lady Macbeth. She is plucky, awkward, nervous, and believably physical.

Dwayne Johnson is used judiciously and there’s one headfake in the movie based on our expectation of his appearances in the trailer that does something sweet with his character. Saraya’s parents and siblings are supportive and thoughtful but quirky. Her parent’s story about their meeting (apparently a verbatim account based on end credit interview footage) is a fresh and compelling story of love and redemption. Wife found the most interest scenes of the film to be moments when people act out of character: when Zak, recently rejected by the WWE, reunites for the first time with his sister at a Christmas fight and goes off script.

More from Wife’s critique, as the less satisfied viewer: because Soraya never seems that personally invested in her journey, is constantly in a position of questioning her ability and her willingness to continue, the stakes are never that high. In the worst case scenario, she gets what she wants, which is to go back to her loving family and work with them. Also, because her reaction when she’s “on stage” is to clam up and succumb to stage fright, we don’t have many instances when we can read her expressions.

Problems aside, this is a fresh and unusual comedy that displays a young and talented actor’s talents. Go see Fighting With Your Family.