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Review by Susan Granger
1 star out of 4
Here's a quiz: Do you really believe that pro wrestlers fight
a legitimate bout? Do you consider them "superior athletes, superior
men"? Do you feel that women are mindless sex objects who just love
to be punched in the face? Are you easily amused by bodily emission
humor and scatological jokes? What about leaving your partner with an
itchy crotch as a memento of a marriage? If you answered 'yes' to any
or all of the above, you're the target audience for this lamebrained
comedy. David Arquette and Scott Caan play upwardly mobile
portable-toilet maintenance workers in Lusk, Wyoming, who worship
Jimmy (The King) King of World Championship Wrestling, citing him as
"the greatest wrestler of all time." So when the pudgy King (Oliver
Platt), clad in a studded black leather body suit, loses his crown in
a bloody double-cross by his sleazy manager, they set out on a quest
to return him to what they believe is his rightful throne. Not the
Porto-San throne, of course, but that kind of confusion is typical of
the on-screen humor penned by Steven Brill and directed with stomping,
smackdown overkill by Brian Robbins. And it doesn't much matter to
anyone that, outside the ring, King is a boozing, deadbeat dad who
stole his poor parents' motor home. If you're into this sport, you'll
recognize Diamond Dallas Page, Bill Goldberg, Bam Bam Bigelow, Konnan,
Kidman, Sting, Juventud Guerrero, Disco Inferno Saturn, Sid
Vicious. Martin Landau, Joe Pantoliano and Rose McGowan collected
salaries as supporting players but don't bet on mention of this
"credit" on their resumes two years from now. On the Granger Movie
Gauge of 1 to 10, "Ready to Rumble" is a crude, mind-numbing 3, packed
with low blows. It's about as much fun as a low kick to the groin.
Copyright © 2000 Susan Granger
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out of 4
