Spoiler:
I think this movie won't be super popular, because it is sort of over the head of meatball wrestling fans (emotionally), but also a thoughtful person looking for a period drama is not going to be interested in a pro wrestling backdrop. So I guess this movie was made for an audience of one, and that audience is me. I loved the zubaz and mid 80's windbreakers. Cars and crowds and lighting had the right retro feel. Probably wasn't as "Texas-y" as it should have been. Casting was weird (Zac Effron, Jeremy Allen White as roided up wrestlers) but it worked in every way but scale (they were both short, so hard to see as "larger than life" as the real guys were). But what blew me away was the ending. Kevin grew up under the watch of an abusive father, lost four brothers to early deaths (three to suicide), was deep in depression, and pulled out of it with the realization that he couldn't recapture the wonderful camaraderie he had with his brothers but could be a part of that same thing through his sons.
The last second swerve from "some people are cursed and die" to "break the curse with intentional love" was unexpected and wonderful.
The last second swerve from "some people are cursed and die" to "break the curse with intentional love" was unexpected and wonderful.