This sprawling drama is based on the true story of the close-knot Von Erich brothers, professional wrestlers in the late 70s/early 80s, following in their ambitious father's footsteps until the alleged 'family curse' of repeated tragedies begins to strike. Leading the way is an impressively measured performance by Zac Efron, here scarily bewigged and bulked up looking like a He-man action figure, with further excellent turns by Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickson in particular, but the whole ensemble is very committed and credible. The film does quite a good job of exploring the artifice and industry behind professional wrestling, but first and foremost this is a film about family, which it conveys very well, and when tragedy inevitably hits, it hits hard, making the third act particularly relentlessly and unbearably sad. This is a deceptively slight but very sincerely performed tale that is easy to watch and takes the viewer on a rather unexpected and emotional journey.
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