When it comes to feel-good family movies there are quite a few recent releases that fit the bill. But when it comes to a coming of age story that shares the reality of sibling rivalry, the cost of fame and other not-so-glamorous topics, Fighting With My Family is a film that can’t be missed.
Based on the true story of WWE’s Paige’s rise to fame and her family’s plight to make their passion pay off, Fighting With My Family follows Paige, her brother Zak and their family’s highs and lows. Produced by Dwayne Johnson, the film is from Annapurna Pictures and has created quite the buzz, and for good reason.
After screening the film last week, together with a group of fellow bloggers, I participated in a press junket for Fighting With My Family. At the junket that was held at the Essex Hotel in NYC, we had the chance to interview some of the stars of the film including: Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Stephen Merchant and WWE Divas Champ, Paige.
Obviously, we all had so many questions about the story itself, so it was great to hear Paige’s perspective firsthand. When asked what it was like to go through so many hurdles and challenges and then experience success, Paige shared her thoughts on what it was like to view from this new lens.
It’s bizarre because at the time you don’t realize how many obstacles you’re going through until it is being told on the big screen and Stephen did such an amazing job trying to capture everything as accurate as possible.
But yeah, it’s like very bizarre and very surreal and then sometimes I have to sit back and she’s so good at what she does that I forget that she’s playing me and I forget that it’s my story.
But, yeah, every single one of the cast did an incredible job and it’s just thank you all every single one of you by the way. She gets to meet my mom today. I’m very excited.
Fighting With My Family isn’t just a movie about wrestling. In fact, when asked if the movie would translate for people who are not wrestling fans, the cast answered:
I don’t think people need to know all of wrestling to like the film because everyone has a family so I think it’s a film about families and wrestling could be pottery or you could swap out for anything.
Above all, Fighting with My Family is about relationships and how to triumph above all. This key messaging resonated with all of us in the room, and the cast validated these thoughts during the interview. Lena Headey, who plays Paige’s mom, admitted that she studied Julia.
Lena Headey: I mean we watched the documentary, I watched the documentary years ago and sort of fell in love with them because so completely honest and there’s no nonsense. I mean they all say how they feel, there is nothing whispered behind any doors and I think that their authenticity is why you fall in love with them. And I haven’t met Julia yet, I’m meeting her today. Hopefully, she’s pleased.
One of the key messages of the film for me was that life isn’t always going to be easy. It’s going to be hard and messy and unforgiving. When life throws you adversity and tough times, it’s not how you fall, but how you get back up and react. It’s all about moving forward.
And I think part of the message of the film is that nothing is easy whether it’s wrestling or anything else. Doors will be closed in your face, people will sometimes say no, sometimes you won’t fit in, sometimes you will be rejected and you just have to keep moving forward. You know you have to keep taking the punches and if you are passionate about it you just keep plowing on and eventually the doors will open and that is certainly true of all of us in our careers. I’m sure we could all have individual stories of the times where it didn’t pan out so. It’s hard sometimes to remember that and you could give up, you could get depressed but I think it’s all of us and I think certainly Paige’s story is that just keep moving forward.
Fighting With My Family is a heartwarming comedy based on the true story of WWE Superstar Paige. Born into a tight-knit wrestling family, Paige and her brother Zak are ecstatic when they get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out for WWE. But when only Paige earns a spot in the competitive training program, she must leave her family and face this new, cut-throat world alone. Paige’s journey pushes her to dig deep, fight for her family, and ultimately prove to the world that what makes her different is the very thing that can make her a star.
Fighting With My Family is out in select theaters on February 14 and nationwide on February 22.
Full Disclosure: This junket was hosted by Annapurna Pictures. All opinions are my own. As always, thanks for supporting NKT.