Kayfabe: 58 Out Of 100 Stars

This film came out a couple of years ago and I don't remember it being discussed much, if at all, on any of the wrestling boards I visit but since it's about wrestling I decided to give it a shot.

It's a fake documentary, ala The Office, about a low level indy promotion and it's dyeing days and it's not a half bad little comedy.

Things start off a tad slow and a bit cornballish as they devote the early part of the film to explaining wrestling lingo and introducing the characters, but once things get rolling it's a pretty decent ride. Mixed in with the comedy there's a decent amount of wrestling action which is really well done in a "this is clearly low level indy wrestling" sort of way that never get's boring. Whether these guys are actually wrestlers or not I don't know, but they easily pass.

Anyway, the story is pretty simple. The promoter is losing his lease on the building they use to run shows so he's decided that this is it and the main focus of the film is on the promotions final two shows and the weeks leading up to them. The main characters are the two top guys, one of whom has spent time in "the show" as they repeat over and over. That phrase and the term "gimmicks" are used about 30 times each in the film and it get's annoying but what can ya do. The other top guy, and the main focus of the film is Randy "The Rocket" Tyler who plays the companies champion and generally runs things. Both of these guys portray "almost got there, but didn't" indy veterans very well and give the film a decent base of reality. The rest of the dudes are a mix of gimmick sterotypes, green rookies and hardcore wrestlers you're apt to find on the indy scene.

The film is total PG as all swearing and nudity is bleeped and blurred, and that adds a certain amount of charm, as if you're watching a legit documentary.

There is a certain amount of cornball stuff that either just looks dumb or doesn't resonate as real, such as a fake bar fight and overuse of insider lingo but like I said, there's enough decent comedy and in ring action to make it an enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half, especially if you're a wrestling fan.