Sons. Brothers. Champions.

Starring: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, Grady Wilson, Valentine Newcomer, Scott Innes, Stanley Simons

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Now, we all know Kerry's my favorite, then Kev, then David, then Mike. But the rankings can always change."– Fritz Von Erich speaking about to own sons

Why watch this? The Von Erich's were Pro Wrestling royalty. This is their true, tragic story.

Plot Summary: This is the true, tragic story of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of inseparable brothers who rose to prominence in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through a series of triumphs and personal misfortunes, they grapple with the pressures of their demanding father/coach as they seek to achieve fame and legacy within the sport.

Dad's Preview: I must admit I was a fan of Southwest Championship Wrestling as a kid in Texas. There were names like Ricky Romero, Terry Funk, Man Mountain Mike, and The Lawman. However the Von Erich's, and their patented coup de grace known as the "Iron Claw", were the most compelling. This film follows the famous family, led by the stern, demanding Fritz, himself a famous wrestler, and his sons as they grappled from 1979 through the 1990s. Their success was always overshadowed by tragedies, so much so that it appeared the family was cursed. There's a great retro soundtrack, and a very buff Zac Efron shines as oldest son, Kevin, who was the only sibling to reach age 34. He would witness all his brother's deaths, three by suicide. The film moved me more than I expected, as this family's often-self-inflicted pain simply seems like too much to bear.  

Access Ent., BBC Film, House Productions; A24