It's a hard life - find happiness where you can

Rating: Null/10 (17 November 2011)

I liked this movie. There are many reasons. One is that we get so close to Randy. It becomes so realistic that we start to identify with him.I was surprised by that. What we see is that he is gentle. The same with the other wrestlers. They seem like good and friendly guys. At least I was surprised. At the same time, we learn that he is lonely. He struggles. In one scene Randy and a few other worn out, old time-heroes sit and sign autographs and sell DVD's. It's a sad sight. This also surprised me. So there is this two-fold surprise in the movie.
Another reason I liked the movie, is that he tries hard to find some happiness. There is a touching love story, and as we have already started to have sympathy with Randy, we start to feel the same for Cassidy. She is a local stripper, played by Marissa Tomei. She is so beautiful, and life is hard for her too, so we really hope that it will work out for them. I think Rourke and Tomei have good chemistry. Randy also tries to make it right with his daughter, who he has neglected. I think Evan Rachel Wood also a good choice for the role. The only thing that I can point my finger on, is the very predictable way Randy blew his last chance. I felt the daughter was too strict, almost as if she just had to follow the script.
A third reason I liked the movie is Mickey Rourke. I felt like I could identify more with Randy knowing the struggles Rourke has had in his private life. Not being judgemental. The Ram has his reasons, and I am sure Rourke had his. We all have.
A final reason is the ending. It is a relief that movies don't have to follow a certain formula. You could argue that this film has it's own formula that it has to follow, but at least it is a rare one.
I recommend The Wrestler. It is 1,5 hours well spent.