In a time when pro wrestling for women was illegal throughout the United States, a small-town single mother embraces the danger as she dominates a peculiar American niche entertainment industry & becomes the first millionaire female athlete.
“Queen of the Ring” is a new sports biopic about the early days of women’s professional wrestling, focusing on Mildred Burke, the first major female wrestling star. The film spans two decades of her life, showing both her rise in the sport and the legal fights that made women’s wrestling possible, as well as her strange and complicated marriage.
I didn’t know who Emily Bett Rickards was before this, but wow! She is absolutely fabulous, a true superstar, and someone I really hope to see more of in the future. I thought this film worked well as a sports biopic and gave me a look at a time period I had never really thought about before. It includes a lot of interesting details about the challenges and victories of early women’s wrestling while keeping the spotlight on Burke’s personal story. There is also a fun connection to classic sports films. The director is the son of the filmmaker behind “Rocky” and “The Karate Kid.” Even though this film feels very different, it is cool to see that kind of legacy continue.
Some parts did not work as well. The relationships between characters felt underdeveloped, and specific stretches of the film dragged. The time jumps could have been clearer, and a few supporting roles were underplayed, though the central performances were powerful. The movie is long, and you feel that length. The second act slows down too much, with some filler scenes that do not really pay off. The first act jumps into the wrestling world too quickly without giving us enough time with the characters. On the other hand, the training montages were fun, and the third act was delivered with high energy, big emotions, and rising stakes.
One of my biggest frustrations was the fade-to-black cuts. Just when I expected a strong reaction or a big moment, the screen would fade out instead. This broke the immersion more than once. Still, the camerawork during the matches is excellent. The angles and intensity really show the respect the filmmakers had for wrestling.
Overall, this is a well-made sports biopic that follows familiar beats but does them with solid skill. Emily Bett Rickards carries the film with an excellent lead performance, and there are plenty of recognizable faces that make it fun for wrestling fans and biopic lovers. If you enjoy sports dramas, professional wrestling, or underdog stories, “Queen of the Ring” is definitely worth watching.
In Select UK cinemas Friday, September 19th, and On Demand Monday, October 13th
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