A movie that will punch you in the face

If you happen to be sitting around today, and you think you might be feeling a little too happy or optimistic and you need to take it down a notch, have I got a movie for you.

We saw The Wrestler last night (which is on limited release now but will be nation-wide in a few weeks), and it felt like the movie slapped me around for awhile before it just stomped on my heart with soccer spikes. Repeatedly. It was a story about a pro-wrestler, whose career peaked in the 80s (think Hulk Hogan). 20 years later, he's washed up. He can barely afford the rent for his trailer home, his only child hates him, and the only woman he loves is a stripper. On top of this, what's left of his wrestling career grinds to a halt when he suffers a heart attack.

Mickey Rourke's performance as the wrestler is totally genuine. I think it must be very hard to act in such an emotional role without making it into a contrived, Lifetime-movie type of thing. He pulled it off with sincerity. At one point, you even sympathize more with him than his daughter, despite the fact that his character is an absentee father.

My only recommendation is that you follow this movie with lots of ice cream and cuddly animals. Otherwise, you'll spend all night brooding over the cruelty and hopelessness of life.