Fighting with My Family (2019)

Review

108min

Genre:     Fact-based, Comedy, Drama

Director:  Stephen Merchant

Cast:       Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Dwayne Johnson…and more

Writer:    Stephen Merchant

-Synopsis-

A girl from a wrestling family in unassuming East England dreams of making it in the world of global wrestling entertainment, and has her dreams turned into a reality when the WWE rolls into town, but is forced to deal with its effects on her family of fellow aspiring wrestling stars—in this British comedy/drama based on the real life story of WWE star ‘Paige’, from UK comedy giant (literally) Stephen Merchant.

The story of this film is almost as unlikely as the true tale it tells. Born out of a UK visit by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson—a supporting star and producer of the film—and his chance viewing of the 2012 Channel 4 documentary ‘The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family’, chronicling the life of Norwich indie pro-wrestling family ‘The Knights’ and the rise of their youngest Saraya-Jade Bevis, aka Britani Knight and eventually WWE’s Paige. Enter writer, director and all-round comedic mastermind Stephen Merchant to take the helm and inject plenty of humble working-class humour, and you have a classic underdog fish-out-of water story and charming family drama with a grappling twist.

Florence Pugh stars as Saraya ‘Paige’ Knight herself, a pasty Norfolk teen from a close-knit working-class family with wrestling in their blood, working the local circuits with brother Zak (Jack Lowden), mother Julia (Lena Headey) and dad Ricky (Nick Frost)—but with a dream of making it big across the pond with her brother, and becoming WWE ‘Divas’ champion. Enter American talent scout ‘Hutch’ (Vince Vaughn) and superstar ‘The Rock’ (Dwayne Johnson) to give her a shot but dash Zak’s hopes, as she’s faced with the reality of what it takes to become a WWE star as an outsider, while dealing with the fallout . . . and the pressure of upholding the family name.

Professional wrestling, or non-competitive staged outcome wrestling, has a chequered big screen past, often involving straight-to-video films made with the collaboration of companies like WCW and the WWE, who are co-producers of this film—with the exception of the unflinching depiction of the dark side of the business that was 2008’s ‘The Wrestler’. But unlike Darren Aronofsky’s film—which exposed the physically and mentally demanding nature of a business whose dangerous stunts and daily grind conspire to leave lasting marks, and end careers (not to mention lives) early, including Paige’s—‘Fighting With My Family’ keeps things light and relatable, targeting both wrestling newcomers and diehard fans.

Blessed with early buzz and backed by a well-oiled promotional machine, ‘Fighting With My Family’ has the potential to be the biggest unexpected feelgood dramedy of the year, even despite its inexplicable release schedule. Merchant captures the essence of the unique family bond and charming dynamic seen in the documentary, while combining it with bags of awkward comedy and blue-collar humour, and even some good ole fashioned physical comedy—then turning it all upside down when Paige flees to Florida for her unforgiving WWE training and climb to the top, before bringing it all back round.

After her hugely impressive emergence in 2016’s ‘Lady Macbeth’, Florence Pugh takes a major left turn here, proving solid throughout as Paige—despite bearing virtually no physical resemblance to the WWE star—and is accomplished when it comes to the drama, and occasionally the comedy, but wisely shares the physical duties with her stunt double. Meanwhile as her conflicted older brother, Jack Lowden is the heart and soul of the film, representing the family’s status as a positive force in their community.

Yet it’s the film’s two comedy veterans, Vince Vaughn as the tough love WWE mentor and Nick Frost as the family patriarch, who steal every scene they’re in and truly make the film—while the gloriously frank and foul-mouthed but loving dynamic between Frost and family matriarch (and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms) Lena Headey gives the film its character . . . and rubs off on everyone else.

‘Fighting With My Family’ follows in a long line of quirky and unexpectedly successful British working-class underdog comedy/dramas, doing for indie wrestling what ‘Billy Elliot’ did for ballet and ‘The Full Monty’ did for male stripping. But when the story inevitably heads across the pond, and things get bigger and flashier, the film actually becomes duller and feels less genuine—despite being based on true events.

Merchant’s talents lend themselves best to the quirky, blue-collar regional element of the story, where the film is at its best, and something is ironically lost when Paige flees the nest and chases her dreams. But from start to finish this was always going to be a broad, predictable and slightly unsophisticated dramedy, with its share of occasional but unwelcome triumphant sentimentality—designed to deliver a clichéd pre-packaged message of reaching for your dreams and staying true to yourself.

And yet there’s so much warmth, charm, humour and feelgood quality in this variation on a well-trodden theme, that it ultimately chokeslams your pessimism and leg-locks you into submission, leaving you uplifted and thoroughly entertained, if not particularly moved . . . and ready to slap a sleeper hold on the first person you see.

The Bottom Line…

Stephen Merchant’s quintessentially working-class British take on the classic underdog story, and charming biographical wrestling family dramedy may be a safe and innocuous variation on a theme, but it has more than enough heart and humour to power-bomb your cynicism and warm the cockles of your heart, delightfully pinning you down for the one-two-three.

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