This is one of the first films franchised by the wrestling industry to put their enormously popular stars on the big screen, unlike Mickey Rourke's more recent and more acclaimed 'The Wrestler' this film is played mainly for laughs and does include a number of the eras wrestlers to give it some much needed star power.

The films main characters are Gordie (David Arquette) and Sean (Scott Caan) a couple of sanitation workers who want to get their favourite wrestler Jimmy 'The King' King (Oliver Platt) back into the big time spotlight. The wrestling promoter Titus Sinclair (Pantaliano) feels the King has outlived his usefulness so the boys have an uphill struggle to persuade the industry that he still has what it takes to entertain the crowds.

Cast:

David Arquette ... Gordie Boggs
Oliver Platt ... Jimmy King
Scott Caan ... Sean Dawkins
Bill Goldberg ... Himself (as Goldberg)
Rose McGowan ... Sasha
Dallas Page ... Himself (as DDP)
Richard Lineback ... Mr. Boggs
Chris Owen ... Isaac
Steve Borden ... Himself (as Sting)
Joe Pantoliano ... Titus Sinclair
Martin Landau ... Sal Bandini
Caroline Rhea ... Eugenia King
Tait Smith ... Frankie King
Ellen Albertini Dow ... Mrs. MacKenzie
Kathleen Freeman ... Jane King
Lewis Arquette ... Fred King
Ahmet Zappa ... Cashier
Max Daniels ... Stu
John Ennis ... Stan
Jill Ritchie ... Brittany
Anthony T. Pennello ... Gus (as Tony Pennello)
Scott 'Bam Bam' Bigelow ... Himself (as Bam Bam Bigelow)
Stephanie Bellars ... Herself (as Georgeous George)
Juventud Guerrera ... Himself
Mark Hildreth ... Himself (as Van Hammer)
Curt Hennig ... Himself
Michael Haynes ... Himself (as Prince Iaukea)
Glenn Gilbertti ... Himself (as Disco Inferno)
Peter Gruner ... Himself (as Billy Kidman)
Charles Ashenoff ... Himself (as Konnan)
Oscar Gutiérrez ... Himself (as Rey Mysterio Jr)
Perry Saturn ... Himself (as Saturn)
Randy Savage ... Himself (as Randy 'Macho Man' Savage)
Booker Huffman ... Himself (as Booker T)
Sid Eudy ... Himself (as Sid Vicious)
Chae An ... Herself (as Chae)
Teri Byrne ... Herself (as Fyre)
Melissa Anne Bellin ... Herself (as Spice)
Sharmell Sullivan ...Herself (as Storm)
Vanessa Bozman ...Herself (as Tygress)
Gene Okerlund ... Himself
Noah Schiavone ...Himself (as Tony Schiavone)
Mike Tenay ... Himself
Michael Buffer ... Himself
Charles Robinson ...Himself

My View:

I've included a large castlist simply to give wrestling fans an idea of the stars involved in this film, most of them barring Rey Mysterio Jr are now out of the limelight and due to this the film does feel like something of an archive piece and history lesson. It has dated fairly badly and it is strange that a parody of an industry which itself is something of a parody was needed.

There are some good actors in this film in Landau and Macgowan but the star is undoubtedly Platt playing a man who unlike his wrestling persona is a drunk transvestite with no self belief or moral guidance system. This was basically created as a vehicle for the now defunct WCW wrestling association and it does headline a lot of their stars who put themselves into playing hyped up versions of themselves with glee.

Overall it is an affectionate film and the cast do their best with it, Arquette and Caan are very annoying in the leads and their sub-Bill and Ted rantings are a bit embarrassing at times.

The film does try to give off a message of belief and honesty and there are some tender moments as their men-children realise their dreams and beliefs may have been ill-held and unrealistic, but as you'd expect their is a rip-roaring finale and everybody gets the chance to have an ending.

Overall this could have been a car crash of a film but is saved by some decent performances and some funny lines, it doesn't tell us anything new about wrestling, and most of the stars are now exactly in the role of 'the King' being no longer needed in their industry, which is ironic, but as a film its watchable and apart from the leads doesn't make you want to get up and bodyslam your tv into the sofa!!!