Sympathetic but critical fable of the world of low-rent pro wrestling

Rating: 6/10 (5 September 2009)

The Wrestler introduces us to a behind-the-scenes look at the world of low-rent professional wrestling through the eyes of one Randy "The Ram" Robinson, an aging pro wrestler who's desperate to stay in the business despite being way past his prime. Director Darren Aronofsky treats the wrestling world sympathetically and partly shoots his film in the style of a documentary. He suggests that pro wrestlers are a benign bunch who work hard at their 'craft'. From the outset one sees that there is a great camaraderie between the wrestlers who are determined not to upstage one another and always put on a 'good show'. After watching 'The Wrestler', one comes away with a modicum of respect for these 'entertainers', as it appears quite a bit of rehearsal and detailed preparation goes into creating their mini-spectacles for the public.
To reinforce the idea that the wrestling world is populated by 'good guys', the film's protagonist (very well-played by Mickey Rourke) is made out to be a tough guy with a heart of gold. The film's screenwriter, Robert Siegal, establishes that early on when he has Randy tumble around with the kids in the trailer park who all seem to love him. What's more Randy seems to really enjoy signing autographs and treats the younger wrestlers with the utmost respect.
One of 'The Wrestler's' great strengths is that despite having respect for the journeymen who are devoted to their craft, it doesn't sugar coat the nature of the business itself. Pro wrestling is still a brutal sport that exacts a tremendous physical toll on its 'actors'. In one memorable scene, Randy hides a razor underneath his bandaged hand and uses it to cut himself on the forehead in order to draw blood in order to make his act more realistic. Right before the film's midpoint, another wrestler uses a staple gun on both himself and Randy as they tumble around in the ring. The peddling of steroids, hormones and illegal prescription medication is seen as routine when Randy casually buys a supply of HGH (Human Growth hormone) from a dealer inside the locker room.
Randy is a tragic figure since he's not a bad guy but one who is unable to accept the fact that he is growing older. After he has a heart attack after a match and undergoes bypass surgery, he accepts his physician's admonitions that he'll probably die if he gets in the ring again. After working in a humiliating job behind a deli counter at a supermarket, the Ram can't accept being away from the only world he's ever known and decides to go ahead with the 20th anniversary of his famed fight with the 'Ayatollah', now a used car salesman who decides to come out of retirement for the money (It seemed a little too 'easy' for Randy to end up in that humiliating job behind the deli counter and I wonder why he didn't try harder to get a job that he could tolerate a bit better, such as driving a cab. Of course, without working at the humiliating job, there would be no direct motivation for his decision to return to the ring).
Aronofsky's subplots include Randy's relationship with Marissa Tomei's lap dancer with a heart of gold, Cassidy, and estranged daughter Stephanie (played by Evan Rachel Wood). Cassidy parallels Randy's journey in that they both work in self-destructive professions. She too has a 'good heart', trying to raise a young son, while working in a seedy strip club. When Randy reveals he's had a heart attack, she no longer sees him as another 'customer' and eventually tries to prevent him from going ahead with his fight with the Ayatollah. When she arrives at the arena, she realizes that Randy is lost and is unable to stop his self-destructive spiral. Randy looks for her during the fight but sees she's already left.
Randy's attempted reconciliation with his estranged daughter is a less developed subplot in the film. We find out little about the daughter, only that Randy ignored her when she was young and now wants to make amends. There's a good scene where Randy forgets about his dinner date with his daughter and instead ends up sniffing cocaine and having sex with a woman. The daughter's decision to cut all ties with her father after he shows up late for their date serves to illustrate another one of the wrestler's character flaws.
Mickey Rourke seemed perfect for the part of Randy with his weather-beaten face and muscular but banged-up body. Rourke, whose career took a nosedive after being perceived in Hollywood as an unsavory character, shows that he has a sensitive side and is not such a bad guy after all. Like Randy, age has mellowed him! The Wrestler doesn't pretend to be a profound character study. In a sense, there are no real bad characters in this world. Rather, the world they are in is defective. The Wrestler is more a simple fable, a cautionary tale to all of us, that we should not resist the idea of aging gracefully.