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Twenty years ago, Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a wrestling superstar, his life a blur of parties, pay-per-view matches, and packs of screaming fans. But those days are long gone. He still dons his Spandex tights and climbs into the ring whenever he can, but he also works at a supermarket warehouse to (sometimes) pay the rent on his run-down trailer. He’s still got the great tan, the rock-hard abs, and the long, blonde locks, but he’s added some new accessories, too—like reading glasses and a hearing aid.
Though his star began to burn out years ago, Randy still lives for the spotlight—for those devoted fans who still love him. But, outside the ring, he’s a pretty lonely guy. His daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) hates him for abandoning her as a kid, and the closest thing he’s got to a girlfriend is Cassidy (Marisa Tomei), an aging stripper with a strict no-dating-the-customers rule.
When Randy suffers a heart attack, his doctor orders him to give up wrestling—but Randy doesn’t know if he can handle life outside the ring.
While the over-the-top, theatrical nature of professional wrestling typically lends itself to hokey big-screen comedies (think Ready to Rumble or Nacho Libre), there’s nothing hokey about The Wrestler. It’s not really comedic, either—though the pre-match backstage planning sessions are pretty amusing. Instead, it’s a fascinating drama about an aging has-been who’s desperate to stay in the spotlight—because it’s all he knows.
I feel a bit like a broken record, commenting on Rourke’s performance—since it’s the first thing that anyone mentions when talking about The Wrestler. But I can’t help it—because, to put it simply, Rourke makes the film. The former boxer (and former heartthrob) couldn’t be better suited for the role. He’s tough and determined—but every last one of his character’s years in the ring shows on his face. He’s tired. He’s worn out. And he’s just a bit lost. As Waylon Jennings once sang, he’s been “looking for love in all the wrong places.”
Still, at the same time, he’s an irresistibly charming character—despite his flaws. Yes, he’s a terrible dad—and he can’t seem to change that, no matter how hard he tries. But he’s well-meaning and easy-going and even a bit naïve. He loves playing with the neighbor kids. He compliments and encourages his fellow wrestlers. And even when he takes a crappy job working the supermarket deli counter, he does his best to find joy in what he has to do.
The Wrestler is definitely an unexpected film. While you might expect something long and perplexing (like The Fountain) from director Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler is a simple but captivating character study. And while you might expect a movie about professional wrestling to be action-packed and corny, The Wrestler is thoughtful and unhurried (though it still has its share of violence and blood).
If you go into The Wrestler expecting adrenaline-pumping thrills, you’ll be disappointed (and, most likely, bored). But film buffs will get a very different kind of thrill from this slow but satisfying drama—thanks to a stunning performance by an actor who’s clearly ready for a comeback of his own.
