The classes, where the duo keeps a teen out of a life of drugs and even teaches a blind kid how to kick ass, initially feel like dirty storytelling tricks used by writer/director Stephen Merchant to get us to easily fall in love with the protagonists, yet apparently the details of these classes were taken from real life. Cut to Saraya and Zak in their late teens, giving wrestling lessons to disenfranchised kids during the day, and “fighting” in the ring in the evening for an audience of ten as part of their parents’ financially struggling wrestling organization. Hey, at the very least it’s a good idea to teach your kids to defend themselves, with some showmanship as bonus. Instead of breaking it up, Julia and Ricky give pointers to make the fight more exciting. This easygoing and heartwarming tale, based on a true story, begins with Saraya and Zak as children, engaging in the expected sibling activity of beating each other up over something trivial. The siblings have been primed pretty much since birth by their wrestling-obsessed parents, Julia (Lena Headey) and Ricky (Nick Frost), to prepare for their eventual stardom. (And occasionally it’s to show your junk to a bunch of thirsty women, Full Monty style.) Fighting with My Family hits a combo deal, since the dream of protagonists Saraya (Florence Pugh) and Zak (Jack Lowden) is to become the next big stars of pro wrestling, itself both sport and performance. The specific goal differs between art/performance- Billy Elliot, The Commitments-and sports- Eddie the Eagle. There are so many inspirational dramedies about scrappy dreamers from struggling, working class British towns trying to succeed in a field that’s foreign to their environment, that they can be classified as their own sub-genre.
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December 2022
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