Fighting With My Family (2019)

Fighting With My Family is that sort of feel good, crowd pleasing comedy drama that hits all the feels and gives a very good time. What makes it work so well, besides the charismatic leads Florence Pugh and Jack Lowden, is how earnest it is. It never tries to be anything more than it is, and it comes by all its joyful moments honestly. It's not manipulative just a fun, inspiring story.

The true story of WWE wrestler Paige makes for a great family story. The film doesn't try to make us love her or her working class family, they just show us why we should. And we do. Yes it's a "true story" and yes it still is formulaic, but the film just rides that out and gives us the best story it can.

And at the centre is rising star Pugh who once again shows us just how magnetic a performer she is. Paired with Lowden as her brother, the two make the real life siblings feel fairly real and you just want to root for them. The charming cameo by The Rock and delightful supporting roles by Nick Frost, Vince Vaughn, and Lena Headey just make it all so much fun to watch. Special shout out to Stephen Merchant who also appears in a delightful cameo while also making his feature directing debut with this little gem. The audience smiles all the way through. No matter how predictable or formulaic the story was, the film just rolled on honestly and basically it was damn fun.

Side note, pairing Nick Frost with Jack Lowden really made it stand out for me how much of a dead ringer Lowden is for Simon Pegg 20 years younger.

Anyway, Fighting With My Family is damn good fun and a treat for anyone who sees it.

Fighting With My Family
Starring: Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Vince Vaughn, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Dwayne Johnson
Writer/Director: Stephen Merchant