Beat Down (2012) User Reviews

Ricky's Beat Down!

[anaconda-40658 · 7/10 · 20 May 2015]

Beat Down (2012): Dir: Deanne Foley / Cast: Rob Wells, Marthe Bernard, Tony Nappo, Janet Kidder, Dan Beirne: Wrestling comedy about broken dreams. Marthe Bernard desires to be a wrestler but her father forbids it. He was the legendary White Lightning who had a falling out with his tag team partner, Dark Thunder. Figuring out what happened here becomes evident when Bernard discovers that her mother never died. We know where this is headed but director Deanne Foley does a fine job undercutting the wrestling theme and the lifestyles often resulted from a life on the road. Rob Wells of Trailer Park Boys fame is hilarious as the loving yet overprotective father who goes to great extremes to prevent his daughter from becoming a wrestler. The villain is Dark Thunder and he is played by Tony Nappo who has used every edge including family against his former partner. We know that the former partners will have to meet in the ring and that Wells will have to regain his dignity. Marthe Bernard does well as the daughter blinded by deceit either from her father's past or his partner's betrayal and ruthless methods to merge ahead. Janet Kidder plays Bernard's mother who left her at a young age because Wells kicked her out. She now occasionally referees but now her daughter is back in the picture thus resurfacing bad vibes. While crude in its humour as well as religion or drugs, this is still an amusing comedy about dreams beat down by the betrayal of others, and a manic performance by Wells that scores that win all the way back to the trailer park. Score: 7 / 10

Beat Down indeed!

[ilania_a · 7/10 · 2 December 2013]

After seeing 1 or two minutes of it during commercials, I finally decided to watch the whole film. This Canadian movie is at least rolling on, no dull moments. Good acting by the young Marthe Bernard and Rob Wells as her father, and Janet Kidder in particular. In general the film includes some unsavoury and physically ugly characters, spending their lives in dark clubs, drab motel rooms, street alleys without any trees, and loud arenas. I feel sorry for the actors who had to use so much foul language. Not knowing anything about this kind of wrestling....it seems as if the fighting manner has no rules whatsoever. It is hard to understand why people wish to trample upon others and cause tremendous pain. It is also quite surprising that the public fills the arena and shouts their hearts out. I suppose it is based on the true life of some people in this country. Is this way of life really Canadian? Or was it done as a film that can be sold outside Canada? I wish I could have given it only 6 1/2 points. I am leaving it at 7 simply for the good acting.