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READY TO
RUMBLE
review by Joseph B. Mauceri
SYNOPSIS: READY TO RUMBLE plays out like a modern "Tall Tale," where the wide-open spaces have been replaced by trailer parks, and the cowboys by wrestlers. Like the accomplishments of Pacos Bill and Paul Bunyan, their heros' accomplishments are all in their minds. READY TO RUMBLE is as filthy and uncouth as the wild west. REVIEW: Gordie and Sean clean human refuse by day and dream about the legendary feats of their champions of the squared circle of professional wrestling by night. Their all-time hero is Jimmy King, a blend of Elvis Presley and the Arthurian legend. When King is massacred before their eyes, they seek him out to help him get revenge and win back his title. Films often suffer from a lack of resolution, but you can see where this one is going right from the start (I bet you thought I was going to say "straight into the crapper"!) The problem here is that it suffers from a misguided first act, top-heavy with 'tons' of shit gags. Once the film turns into a "road flick," it almost becomes entertaining. Unfortunately, Arquette utilizes his "1-800-Call-ATT" commercial for the entire film. At one point he approaches a payphone that bears the logo can you say "product placement"and you almost expect him to break out into his mantra. As you might have guessed, the film is loaded with product placement. The central problem with READY TO RUMBLE is that it is unclear as to whether it is a comedy or satire. If it is a comedy, a wrestler would be upset with the negative picture it paints of professional wrestling. However, if it is satire, then by the second act it works as well as any National Lampoon film. The only thing its missing is Dennis Quaid. What makes the film watchable are the performances of Platt and Landau.
You have to give these guys credit for what they were put through. (Or
maybe they owed somebody big time!) Never mind that Platt steps into the
ring with professional wrestlers, he also gives a convincing performance
as white trash loser. Landau is hilarious as a retired old-school wrestler,
who still is a
When it works, READY TO RUMBLE has the flare of those driven-style exploitation films of the late 1960s. Its narrow appeal should not daunt audience turnout due to the vast number of fans that flock to sport's arenas to witness the exploits of these modern gladiators. I'm sure Billy Bob Earl Joe from the Paradise Motor Park gives READY TO RUMBLE four rifle racks! OFFICIAL WEB
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