Considering how long WWE Studios has been around (I’ll give you a hint, it’s older than Marvel Studios), I’m surprised it’s taken this long to make a film about one of the many rags to riches stories that they have at their disposal with the many wrestlers they’ve had throughout the years. I mean, given how the company pays so much attention to their characters, what better way to build a legacy than through a biopic? Either way, they made one now, and the story explores Paige.
We meet Paige, or Saraya Bevis (Florence Pugh) – as she was previously known as – who is a part of a wrestling family in Norwich, England. Her parents, Patrick (Nick Frost) and Julia (Lena Headey) do their own tournaments, and her brother, Zak (Jack Lowden), helps teach local kids how to wrestle. The two siblings send a video of them wrestling, which catches the attention of recruiter, Hutch (Vince Vaughn), but only Saraya is chosen to train for the WWE.
The film is classic underdog story, which does make it predictable, but like a great WWE match, despite knowing everything is planned and fixed far in advance, it hits the mark with every beat. There are two specific reasons as to why, and the first is the choice of hiring Stephen Merchant as the writer and director. He not only brings a necessary specificity to the film’s portrayal of a struggling British family, and he also brings a great sense of humor.
While it is limited by the PG-13 rating, the glimpses of the family’s life is appropriately gritty, and not afraid to get into details about things certain family members have done before they were able to bring some semblance of stability. They are far from perfect, but they love each other, and it’s what keeps them together through thick and thin. It’s not the kind of film that assumes the audience will love its characters, it earns that affection, and it even challenges it at a few points, which makes those high points that much more satisfying. I even liked this small, but effective little arc that Saraya has with the other female finalists, targeting what would be a superficial gag in any other film, and instead given a layer of depth and understanding that I was genuinely surprised by.
The humor is exactly what you’d expect from Merchant. Much of it comes from awkward social interactions, amusing one-liners, and some wittier-than-usual heckling. It helps bring a sense of liveliness to moments that are there purely for moving the plot forward, and it makes the characters that much more endearing since the humor never comes across as mean spirited or punching down. Plus, the cast is clearly more than game in going with even some of the more sillier moments, and they’re very much having a blast doing it.
The second thing that makes the film work so well are the performances. Florence Pugh has always been an excellent actress since she made her big break with Lady Macbeth in 2017. Here, she is able to bring that element of nervousness and determination that defines Saraya’s journey into the WWE. However, it’s her dynamic with her brother, Zak, that really gives the film a pulse and thematic momentum. Lowden, who is practically unrecognizable from his role as the not-Tom Hardy pilot in Dunkirk, is excellent here. He walks a fine line with his character because you are meant to be deeply frustrated him at several points in the second half, and yet, still empathize. His character goes through a massive change where he is forced to reckon with the fact that he will never achieve his dream, no matter how hard he tries. You understand his anger, his sadness, and when he lashes out in horrific ways, you still hope that he can come to terms with it. Everyone else is great, there’s even an extended cameo from Dwayne Johnson that is delightful, but the two siblings are the heart and soul of the film.
I haven’t watched wrestling in a very long time, but I used to be obsessed when I was young during the mid-90s to early-2000s. In watching Fighting With My Family, it brought back some of those memories and the very distinct joy of watching wrestling at that time. More cynical minds might find it hard to get past the fact that the reason the movie even exists is basically brand management for WWE, but if you are able to look beyond those PR and commercial motivations, there is a deeply sweet and sincere film to be found. Merchant brings a touch of humor and thoughtfulness that the actors are able to bring to life, and it does exactly what any crowd pleaser should do. I was charmed, I was entertained, I was thrilled, and I was deeply moved as well. I loved it, and you definitely do not need to be a fan of wrestling to enjoy it.