“Queen of the Ring” is a biopic sports drama film that tells the tale of Mildred Burke, a professional wrestler who won three world titles. The movie is a limited screen time release, exclusively in theaters on March 7.
One of the film’s highlights is Emily Bett Rickards, who plays Burke. Rickards’ first television appearance was in the hit action series “Arrow,” when she played Felicity Smoak. She is renowned for returning to her roles in the “Arrowverse” television series.
Notably, this is not primarily about wrestling; rather, it is a celebration of female empowerment and the unwavering spirit of women throughout the time when they were prohibited from an all-male wrestling sport.
The film does a good job of chronicling a single mother from a small town with a big dream. However, some parts were a bit campy or reminiscent of an ESPN documentary. There is a little imperfection, but not enough to sway my opinion of the movie’s realism.
In addition, this should be conveyed more effectively for the general public rather than catering to the die-hard wrestling fans, being overly romanticized and underwritten in a passably amusing historical soap opera.
There are innumerable pivots and economic issues that were skipped over, and I felt the majority of major emotional passages were lacking. I, too, wondered whether simplifying this tailspin tale would have improved the story.
It is nevertheless worth seeing despite its shortcomings, especially if you like professional wrestling. You may still appreciate it without necessarily being a fan.
