oolatech2 Review of The Wrestler

The Wrestler (1974)

Not nearly as good as All the Marbles but it was entertaining

[4/10 · 21 August 2010]

This film could have been so much more than a Verne Gagne ego boost. The owner of the AWA made the movie to promote himself and the AWA. One of the greatest scientific wrestlers of all time that had more money than he knew what to do with and this film is the result. For its time it was the best wrestling film till All the Marbles came out in 1981. I enjoyed seeing a young Don Muraco before he became Magnificent and the original Rock. It introduces you to the staples of the AWA wrestling circuit and I imagine if you grew up in the Minnesota area and watched it on local TV it was time capsule of early 70's wrestling. I thought the ending was superb for a B movie and that is why I scored it a 4. Campy and boring are two words that come to mind when I think of this film, in fact it reminded me of early rap music where the rappers had to tell you how great they were instead of letting you decide it for yourself. Verne's wife in the movie was my least favorite character and was guilty of over acting her part as the concerned spouse who thinks her husband should retire before he gets himself killed in the ring. It does treat wrestling as a sport instead of a soap opera and Ed Asner is great as usual. I bought a copy and will probably watch it from time to time for the nostalgia.