WTF: World Thumbwrestling Federation, Movie Review

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Director Enrico Natale goes for the absurd (that’s SoBros’ style too!) in WTF: World Thumbwrestling Federation, but lacking is energy and charismatic personalities, and without that, this mediocre mockumentary is down for the three count.

WTF: World Thumbwrestling Federation sets the stage for an ultimate showdown in a tournament called the “Thumble Rumble”, where only one person (or team) can win. No need to go over the rules because they’re irrelevant and no one really gives a shit in the movie. There are plenty of stereotypes and gimmicks to go around: The Mad Russian, Sergeant America, The Bro, El Luchador, and a guy dressed up as a bear called The Bear. Don’t try to remember them all because we aren’t supposed to care about them any way.

It’s all about the WTF World champ, Mr. Venom (Bert Belasco), and his fiery feud with the Brussel brothers. The Brussels’ father is a WTF legend and held the World title for 25 years until he dropped dead after losing to Mr. Venom five years ago. How can a family bounce back from that? Easy. Nathaniel (Jared Winkler) is going to get his other two brothers, Conner (Rob Colletti) and Kenny (Nathan Caywood), to combine forces and take down the man who snake bit their dad using his grotesque, gigantic, opposable digit, leaving their family shattered.

And this could very well become their last ditch effort since WTF’s owner, Geri McFlem (Debra Wilson), wants to turn the joint in to a Camel Toes—sort of like a Hooters but with vaginas. Clearly, the odds are stacked against the bros, and they have personal and physical obstacles they must overcome in order to make their daddy proud. Conner is an alcoholic while Kenny is blind and Nathaniel was born without thumbs!

Talk about being dealt a bad hand in life.

WTF is a comedy farce that desperately wants to make you laugh. The good news is it succeeds, but not nearly as often as it wants to. It’s extremely evident Natale and the entire cast are in on the joke. At the same time, with underdeveloped characters you refuse to cheer for and a narrative that can’t get its low-brow humor over, perhaps this joke is worth keeping to yourself.

Check out the full trailer here.

“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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