I’ll admit to never really being a Zac Efron fan. When I heard that he was playing the lead role in this, I was ambivalent. When I saw the photographs of what he did to himself to prepare, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him in it. He was more attractive before beefing up the way he did. But I went in hoping he could change my mind.
The film follows the Von Erich family of wrestlers who rose to fame in Texas in the seventies and eighties. Their overbearing father, a wrestler himself, pushed all four sons into wrestling even as one would rather be a musician and another was on the cusp of reaching the olympics for shot put. When the olympics are boycotted by the United States, Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) returns home and takes the place of older brother Kevin (Zac Efron) as the father’s favorite.
As time goes on, Kerry suffers a motorcycle accident right after winning a title match. Brother David has a chance at the title, but dies in Japan from injuries sustained during a fight. Youngest brother and musician Mike ends up with brain damage from a coma. And Kevin continues to struggle with being pushed aside by his father for his younger brothers.
Kevin’s only saving grace is his wife (Lily James) who offers support even as his parents do not allow for tears even as his two remaining brothers take their own lives. Soon, he finds a way out of wrestling and finds happiness in his wife and children.
This film is a tragic and heartbreaking true story of a family pushed to its limits by a father who wants nothing more than for his sons to win a title. He is unrelenting as he pushes them past their limits. The cast brings the characters to life with great care. But it is Zac Efron who really shines. He has done the impossible. He turned me into a fan. He brings an understated softness to the character, and when he finally gets emotional, it really brings out the feels. I’ll admit to dropping a tear or two.
I’ll also admit to sitting up at attention when the film used Blue Oyster Cult in the soundtrack. That alone made this film a winner. The soundtrack really set the time period.
Four and a half out of five stars, mainly for Zac Efron who finally brought more to the screen than I thought he was ever capable of.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Becky Tyler Art and Photography 
I’ll admit to never really being a Zac Efron fan. When I heard that he was playing the lead role in this, I was ambivalent. When I saw the photographs of what he did to himself to prepare, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him in it. He was more attractive before beefing up the way he did. But I went in hoping he could change my mind.
The film follows the Von Erich family of wrestlers who rose to fame in Texas in the seventies and eighties. Their overbearing father, a wrestler himself, pushed all four sons into wrestling even as one would rather be a musician and another was on the cusp of reaching the olympics for shot put. When the olympics are boycotted by the United States, Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) returns home and takes the place of older brother Kevin (Zac Efron) as the father’s favorite.
As time goes on, Kerry suffers a motorcycle accident right after winning a title match. Brother David has a chance at the title, but dies in Japan from injuries sustained during a fight. Youngest brother and musician Mike ends up with brain damage from a coma. And Kevin continues to struggle with being pushed aside by his father for his younger brothers.
Kevin’s only saving grace is his wife (Lily James) who offers support even as his parents do not allow for tears even as his two remaining brothers take their own lives. Soon, he finds a way out of wrestling and finds happiness in his wife and children.
This film is a tragic and heartbreaking true story of a family pushed to its limits by a father who wants nothing more than for his sons to win a title. He is unrelenting as he pushes them past their limits. The cast brings the characters to life with great care. But it is Zac Efron who really shines. He has done the impossible. He turned me into a fan. He brings an understated softness to the character, and when he finally gets emotional, it really brings out the feels. I’ll admit to dropping a tear or two.
I’ll also admit to sitting up at attention when the film used Blue Oyster Cult in the soundtrack. That alone made this film a winner. The soundtrack really set the time period.
Four and a half out of five stars, mainly for Zac Efron who finally brought more to the screen than I thought he was ever capable of.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Share this: