Phonearl
Good start, but then it gets ruined
Humbersi
The first must-see film of the year.
Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Micah Lloyd
Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.
edwagreen
Patricia Clarkson is a greatly under-rated actress who gives a very good performance as a conflicted mother, who blamed her oldest son for the death of her husband. The son has abandoned her and his much younger brother.The brother takes up wrestling, the apparent family sport, in an attempt to bring everyone together. The older brother, at 28, has been in trouble with the law, and it's the younger one who makes an appealing plea to the judge.The film is a good one as there is quite a bit of irony here. Wrestling led to the death of the father, and yet it brings the family back together. Naturally, there are the bullies who harass the younger son, but that's all taken care of once the older brother enters the pictures and trains the brother to be quite a wrestler for himself.Danny Glover portrays a mysterious fisherman whose true identity is revealed at the end of the story. Madeleine Martin, as Chet's girlfriend, is miscast. That voice on her was not good, and therefore when she spoke, it sounded as if she were screeching.
robmorris27
I only just saw this today and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Cena is good and doesn't over play his part or look out of place with some very fine actors in support. The film has a good story and is well, acted I'm just afraid that many people will be put off by the wwe connection but shouldn't be. This a great film for anyone with or without an interest in wwe but if you do have an interest i recommend you buy the special edition 2 disc set as it has some great moments of wrestling history on it. Nice to see WWE films branching out and finely a credible role for the ever more versatile Cena who i see having a great future in films.
Brownsbros3
Because of this being a WWE Films release, there are going to be some that will automatically condemn the movie. It's a shame, because this is a really good film. John Cena's involvement is actually minimal. The focus is on his younger brother. The story is about a young man named Cal who had a dad and an older brother, who were great amateur wrestlers. The father is killed in a car accident while he and the older brother Mike(played by Cena) are going to scout an opponent. The death causes a rift in the family. Mike blamed himself, and the mother (played by Clarkson) blamed him too. Ten years after the accident, Cal has decided to start wrestling. Being awkward and clumsy, he seeks out Mike to train him. He uses the amateur wrestling in hopes of not only coming out of his shell, but also in putting his family back together in.This is by far the best of the films WWE has put out. It has a lot of heart, and tells a good story. Even if you are not into amateur wrestling, they still make it easy to follow. I wish WWE would have actually gotten more behind this rather than releasing it to just a few select screens, and then rushing it to DVD. They didn't even advertise it outside of WWE programming. This is a film that they could have made more money on.
Hellmant
'LEGENDARY': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five) John Cena stars in his first family friendly dramatic film, which is also a first for the studio behind the film (WWE Films). WWE Films has produced all of Cena's films ( 'THE MARINE', '12 ROUNDS' and now this) and I'm sure their involvement in the film was the reason for Cena's casting. WWE and Cena's interest in the film is a little odd considering it feels like a 'Hallmark Hall Of Fame' TV movie. It's directed by Mel Damski, a veteran TV director, and written by John Posey, a veteran TV actor (who also plays Coach Tennent in the film). So the movie has a strong TV movie feel to it and a 'feel good' uplifting family one at that. Despite this it was released in theaters (in a limited run) for 18 days before taking the video rout. It would have had a much more fitting home as a Sunday night movie on CBS or Lifetime (which it still might I'm sure).The film revolves around a nerdy high-school student named Cal Chetley (played by Devon Graye) who one day decides to join his school's wrestling team. His father and brother Mike (Cena) were both wrestling legends but his mother Sharon (played impressively by Patricia Clarkson) is dead set against him following in their footsteps. Their family was torn apart ten years earlier when Cal's dad died in an automobile accident and for some reason Sharon blames wrestling for their problems. Cal tracks down his unemployed alcoholic brother and asks him to train him. At first Mike is reluctant to help his brother, who he barely knows, but after Cal shows up at a hearing (for the sentencing of a bar brawl Mike was involved in) and defends him Mike feels obligated to return the favor. So the two train together in secrecy behind their mother's back. This of course leads to dramatic complications.The movie feels a lot like watered down generic TV crap but it does have a heart and is inspirational in a way. Cena is adequate in his role as well as Graye. Clarkson shines like always and gives a performance far better than the film deserves. Danny Glover has a nice supporting turn as well. The writing and directing is decent by TV movie standards but for a theatrically released, as well as high profile video run, it doesn't measure up. Cena could be a decent action star if he sets his standards higher, he's such a huge wrestling star it shouldn't be too hard for him to get some decent roles (I heard he has interest in doing 'THE EXPENDABLES 2' but many think he hasn't earned it yet). With that said doing this family film isn't nearly as atrocious as the ones The Rock has done (he also got his film career jump started through WWE Films as well with 'THE RUNDOWN' and 'WALKING TALL'). The movie as a whole would be worth checking out on TV with your family.Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95Zjdlcbe0