Posts Tagged ‘Cara Buono’

QUEEN OF THE RING: 2 STARS. “no peaks and valleys, just peaks.”

SYNOPSIS: “Queen of the Ring,” a new sports drama now playing on theatres, is the (mostly) true story of Mildred Burke, a female wrestler who defied skeptics to become a champion when all-girl wrestling was banned in most of America. “I can’t sing and I can’t dance,” she says, “but I can tell a story and beat some ass.”

CAST: Emily Bett Rickards, Josh Lucas, Tyler Posey, Francesca Eastwood, Marie Avgeropoulos, Deborah Ann Woll, Cara Buono, Adam Demos, Martin Kove, Kelli Berglund, Damaris Lewis, Gavin Casalegno, Walton Goggins, Mildred Burke. Directed by Ash Avildsen.

REVIEW: Mildred Burke (Canadian actor Emily Bett Rickards) is a pioneer in wrestling history. A three-time women’s world champion she was the queen of the ring and enjoyed a career that was anything but standard. It’s a shame then, that her biopic, “Queen of the Ring” is such a straightforward affair.

Director Ash Avildsen (son of “Rocky” director John G. Avildsen), working from his own script, never met an inspirational moment he couldn’t heighten. According to “Queen of the Ring” Burke’s every move, in and out of the ring, is worthy of a fist pump and some stirring music on the soundtrack. There are no peaks and valleys. Even when she faces hardship there’s just peaks, which blunts the effectiveness of the film as a hero’s story.

The result is a cartoonish portrait that doesn’t feel authentic.

CFRA IN OTTAWA: THE BILL CARROLL MORNING SHOW MOVIE REVIEWS!

I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk about the new movies coming to theatres including the wild ‘n wacky “A Minecraft Movie,” the doggie drama of “The Friend,” the rom com “A Nice Indian Boy” and the wrestling biopic “Queen of the Ring.”

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

BOOZE & REVIEWS: DOUBLE SHOTS & HARD DRINKING WRESTLERS!

I join the Bell Media Radio Network national night time show “Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift” for “Booze & Reviews!” This week I review “The Queen of the Ring” and suggest some wrestling themed cocktails to enjoy while watching the story of the first female wrestling champion!

Shane and I talk about the career of the late, great Val Kilmer and talk aboiut Kermit the Frog’s commencement speech!

Click HERE for Booze & Reviews and my review of the wrestling movie “Queen of the Ring” and suggest the perfect drink to slam while watching the flick!