Fighting with My Family Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Fighting with My Family Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 22, 2019

WWE Studios films usually involve guns and blood and musclebound Superstars in the middle of mayhem. The company has certainly released a few lighter films -- Knucklehead and The Resurrection of Gavin Stone amongst them -- but none of the studio's past productions, regardless of categorization, have been as sincere, heartfelt, and downright good as Director Stephen Merchant's (Cemetery Junction) Fighting with My Family. The film tells the true tale of WWE Diva Paige (real name Saraya Knight) whose rise to WWE stardom came swiftly but not without a number physical, emotional, and personal tolls. The film finds a strong balance between drama, heart, and humor and stands a good chance of winning over even fans who couldn't pick a WWE wrestler out of a lineup and would only know what The Rock is cooking if he were to make a guest appearance on the Food Network.

Zak Knight (Jack Lowden) has dreamed of a career in the WWE since age three. He comes from wrestling stock. Wrestling is the family business; his mother Julia (Lena Headey) and father Patrick (Nick Frost) teach the sport and encourage their children to participate. It's not until age 13 that Zak's sister Saraya (Florence Pugh) finds a penchant and a passion for it. When Zak and Saraya's demo tape makes it to WWE, talent scout and NXT trainer Hutch Morgan (Vince Vaughn) tries them out. But only Saraya is given the opportunity. While she, now working under the name "Paige," faces emotional and physical turmoil in the company's U.S.-based training facility, back in the U.K. her brother Zak, a new father, finds himself falling further into depression under the weight of his broken dreams.

The movie's necessary, but unnecessarily drawn out, introduction is its low point. It's nearly thirty minutes before the siblings are standing in front of Hutch and hoping against hope that they are selected to move on to NXT. And it is there that the film begins its paralleling journeys, following the rebranded Paige as she struggles to make it through WWE's rigorous training procedures while back across the Atlantic Zak's struggles with depression and resentment and the realities of life in the shadow of a shattered dream. Paige's story certainly dominates the film, but it may be Zak's that is the most engrossing and ultimately rewarding. Fighting with My Family follows a fairly familiar arc for Paige's story, a formula that incorporates the joys of instant success, the realities and rigors of a new life on the path to a dream, the fall, the reevaluation, and the return. But it is how she must ultimately find strength in a weakened brother and how he must turn towards a new destiny and away from the fallout from failed fate where the movie best works. Paige's story is fun and inspirational, but it's in Zak's struggle to emerge from his personal darkness where the movie shines.

Performances are a strength. Florence Pugh impresses as Paige. She certainly meets the physical demands the part requires but works hard to explore the character depth that drives her but also, perhaps more interestingly, the character depth that stalls her. She creates a complex character for Paige, one who is driven to succeed but sometimes cannot answer why. Even as the character is dropped into a series of familiar situations that challenge her persona, perhaps bordering in dramatic cliché, Pugh maintains a sincere inward focus through every outward action. Jack Lowden is a highlight as Zak, the emotionally scarred brother who allows his life to fall to pieces when he's not chosen to accompany his sister to NXT. The film would benefit from following his journey a little more closely but the actor does receive ample time to develop the inward jealousy and steady fall into a bottomless pit of hopelessness, even with should-be joy beating on his heart's door in practically every scene in which he appears (his involvement in the film's best subplot, teaching a blind boy to wrestle, should be spun off into its own movie). Vince Vaughn is terrific as the drill sergeant-like NXT trainer who turns Zak down and coaches Paige in the life lessons she needs to succeed in WWE, which for her development is more critical than honing her in-ring skills.

Fighting with My Family Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Fighting with My Family's 1080p transfer may not battle it out for Blu-ray's top spot but it's a very good, dependable visual performer. The digitally shot picture is in fine working order, delivering reliably stable and high yield textures, boasting excellent definition to facial structures, clothing lines, and environments, from beaches (and the large tires the ladies flip down them) to backstage areas at WWE events. Clarity is consistent; there are no soft or smudgy edges to be seen. Colors are stable, finding and remaining at a neutral contrast level. Whether various examples of character garb, natural exterior colors, digital signage at WWE events, or paint on various walls, contrast remains naturally consistent and visibly agreeable. Skin tones and black levels are fine. Minimal noise and banding creep in here and there but never to excess.

Fighting with My Family Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Fighting with My Family's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is not remarkable for any single quality but its steadiness and attention to detail certainly elevate it. Essentials are delivered with the necessary flavor and detail, including music which stretches appropriately wide and dialogue which is clear and center positioned. Slams on the mat during practice or the finale or even during some of the smaller venue matches scattered throughout the film sound authentic and engage the low end just enough. There is some quality microphone reverb in chapter 11 when the NXT girls perform before a smaller crowd while large crowd din at the match at the end is engagingly spacious.

Fighting with My Family Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Fighting with My Family contains deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel, two featurettes, and an audio commentary track. Two versions of the film are on offer: Theatrical Version (1:48:28) and Director's Cut (1:48:25). A DVD copy of the film and an iTunes digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Deleted & Extended Scenes (1080p, 8:53 total runtime): Included are Zak Chases EZ - Extended, Dinner with the Knights - Extended, Heavy Lifting, You've Changed, Introducing August Heights, and Paige Talks Smack.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 2:42): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• A Family's Passion: A Making-Of (1080p, 8:53): A look at the documentary that inspired the film, Merchant's draw to the material, the real Knight family, casting and performances, the physical performances and wrestling training, shooting the wrestling scenes after a Monday Night RAW, and more.
• Learning the Moves (1080p, 3:18): A look at Paige's trendsetting work in WWE and a closer, albeit fairly short, look at the actors' physical work in the film.
• Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Stephen Merchant offers a fast-moving, detailed, and well-spoken track that breaks the movie and the world around it down with some detail. The track is available on both cuts.

Fighting with My Family Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fighting with My Family is not quite perfect, but it is nevertheless a great success of character building and storytelling. It's well acted and Merchant usually finds just the right note for every scene. Universal's Blu-ray is of good all-around quality, delivering high performance video and audio and an honest assortment of extra content. Highly recommended.