Fighting with My Family
Directed by:
Stephen MerchantScreenplay:
Stephen MerchantCinematography:
Remi AdefarasinComposer:
Vik SharmaCast:
Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Vince Vaughn, Dwayne Johnson, Stephen Merchant, Paul Wight, Kim Matula, Aqueela Zoll, Stephen Farrelly (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
The movie follows reformed gangster Ricky, wife Julia, daughter Paige and son Zak as they make a living wrestling together in tiny venues. When Paige and Zak get the opportunity to try out for WWE, the family grabs a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn their wildest dreams into a dazzling future. However, brother and sister quickly discover that to become superstars, both their talent and their relationship will be put to the test. (Lionsgate UK)
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Reviews (9)
Surprisingly, everything I feared here works very well. Dwayne Johnson fulfils his role of adored icon to perfection, the humour is not embarrassing or trodden, and wrestling is a welcome spin on boxing, especially in the performance of the charismatic and emotional Florence Pugh. The tried-and-tested template is strictly adhered to, but everything works as it should, and the supporting characters are mostly not just numbers. Pleasant little surprise. 75%
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On the surface Fighting with My Family is a mediocre biopic set in female wrestling, but it works thanks to a decently written story and the believable performances of Florence Pugh, Nick Frost and The Rock. Thanks to the overbearing parents, the film had a humorous edge that balanced out the ordeal Paige had to go through on her way to her dream goal. In the end, this is a very enjoyable little film!
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A young Englishwoman gets a chance to fight her way into the prestigious wrestling organization WWE. She knows she'll have to work very hard for it, but she doesn't count on how much this chance will affect the lives of those closest to her. Stephen Merchant delivers a brisk feel-good biopic from an unusual setting with fun characters and an incredibly fine Florence Pugh in the lead role. You should see Fighting with My Family for her alone. But even the rest is well above average.
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Aside from The Wrestler, no film from this setting had really come to mind until Fighting with My Family came along. I was expecting a pretty over-the-top spectacle, playing up to something more with various crude jokes. But instead, I got a solid family drama where the comedy genre plays a supportive role. Stephen Merchant surprised me with how sensitively he handles the emotional moments while effectively delivering the humorous side. Florence Pugh convincingly played the lead role, and Vince Vaughn, in a supporting role, pleasantly surprised me (why doesn’t this talented actor get more serious roles? He truly has enormous potential). Dwayne Johnson appeared on screen for only a few minutes, but he nailed his portrayal of himself (the moments with him on screen are among the best). Some jokes didn’t land, but overall, most hit the mark, so that also deserves a thumbs up. It probably won’t rank among the best films of the past year, but I definitely acknowledge that the time spent watching Fighting with My Family was worthwhile. It’s an enjoyable watch. I’m giving it 75%.
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It's an excellent and, above all, well-cast comedy, but it can also grab you by the heart. It's impossible not to root for Florence Pugh, Nick Frost is a hundred and twenty percent funny, and Dwayne Johnson is about a thousand times funnier than he was in both Jumanjis combined. I recommend it to everyone, especially those waiting for the next season of GLOW.
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