[yasr_overall_rating]
In 1980, a teenage boy escapes the unrest in Iran only to face more hostility in America, due to the hostage crisis. Determined to fit in, he joins the school’s floundering wrestling team.
“American Wrestler: The Wizard” follows Ali, an unlikely high school star athlete in a small California town in 1980. He is an underdog before he even gets in the ring though; he’s an Iranian immigrant who’s just arrived in America in the midst of the Hostage Crisis. If the bullying at school and disgusted stares from everyone he comes across weren’t enough, he also cannot find peace at home, where his uncle constantly reminds him of what a burden he is. Things get considerably better when he proves to be a talented wrestler, earning the nickname “The Wizard,” but continues to face intense scrutiny from the school principal, as well the players and fans from rival schools.
Directed by Alex Ranarivelo and written by Brian Rudnick, “American Wrestler” hits most of the beats you would expect in a sports film. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, sports movies areinherently inspirational, and even the mediocre ones are usually fairly compelling. But the film stumbles through its clichés with some of the oddest, most rushed editing I’ve seen. It feels alittle long at almost two hours, but almost every major conflict and dramatic development seems to happen and subsequently resolve in the most sudden way possible. With the stakes constantly changing, the film never allows the audience to fully connect with its protagonist and empathize with what he’s going through.
The cast is decent, especially William Fichtner as the moral, determined coach who is going through a tough time. He brings a lot of heart to a character we’ve seen time and time again. The only aspect that sets the film apart from similar films is its portrayal of Reagan-era Xenophobia, and how that directly parallels Ali’s journey as a wrestler. Although the film may lack subtlety, it’s definitely a story that feels relevant in 2017. I can’t quite recommend this film, but it is occasionally entertaining.
Now available on Digital HD and DVD
