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best known by his ring name Triple H.
 
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|starring=Max Landis<br>[[Chloe Dykstra]]<br>Ana Walczak<br>[[Lola Blanc]]<br>Andi Layne
|starring=Max Landis<br>[[Chloe Dykstra]]<br>Ana Walczak<br>[[Lola Blanc]]<br>Andi Layne
|studio=Adjacent LA
|studio=Adjacent LA
|released=March 16, 2015
|released={{Film date|2015|03|16}}
|country=United States
|country=United States
|runtime=24 minutes
|runtime=24 minutes
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}}
}}


'''''Wrestling Isn't Wrestling''''' is a 2015 short film written and directed by [[Max Landis]]. Released for free on [[YouTube]], the film retells the story of [[WWE]] [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] Paul Levesque, best known by his [[ring name]] [[Triple H]]. Like Landis's 2012 short ''[[The Death and Return of Superman (film)|The Death and Return of Superman]]'', it consists of an unscripted monologue by Landis on the subject matter, accompanied by sequences with actors performing the parts in the story.
'''''Wrestling Isn't Wrestling''''' is a 2015 short film written and directed by [[Max Landis]]. Released for free on [[YouTube]], the film retells the story of [[WWE]] [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] [[Triple H]]. Like Landis's 2012 short ''[[The Death and Return of Superman (film)|The Death and Return of Superman]]'', it consists of a monologue by Landis on the subject matter, accompanied by sequences with actors performing the parts in the story.


==Plot==
==Plot==
In response to the common criticism that professional wrestling is "fake," Max Landis attempts to defend the sport as a legitimately compelling form of fiction. To make this point, he points out that modern professional wrestling contains multiple overtly unrealistic elements that hinge on [[willing suspension of disbelief]], and notes that the scripted nature of wrestling matches doesn't make their stunt-work and choreography any less spectacular.
In response to the common criticism that professional wrestling is "fake," Max Landis attempts to defend the sport as a legitimately compelling form of fiction. To make this point, he points out that modern professional wrestling contains multiple overtly unrealistic elements that hinge on [[willing suspension of disbelief]], and notes that the scripted nature of wrestling matches doesn't make their stunt-work and choreography any less spectacular.


In an effort to prove that wrestling can be as entertaining as any other form of fiction, Landis recounts the story of his favorite wrestler Paul Levesque, better known by his ring name "Triple H." His retelling of Triple H's wrestling career starts with his early days as the wealthy and snobbish "Hunter Hearst Helmsley," continues with his friendship with [[Shawn Michaels]] and his co-founding of the rebellious and rambunctious "[[D-Generation X]]," and ultimately recounts his reign as World Heavyweight Champion, his time as the brutal and paranoid leader of "[[Evolution (professional wrestling)|Evolution]]," and his reinvention as a powerful corporate strongman.
In an effort to prove that wrestling can be as entertaining as any other form of fiction, Landis recounts the story of his favorite wrestler Paul Levesque, better known by his ring name "Triple H". His retelling of Triple H's wrestling career starts with his early days as the wealthy and snobbish "Hunter Hearst Helmsley," continues with his friendship with [[Shawn Michaels]] and his co-founding of the rebellious and rambunctious "[[D-Generation X]]," and ultimately recounts his reign as [[WWE Championship|World Heavyweight Champion]], his time as the brutal and paranoid leader of "[[Evolution (professional wrestling)|Evolution]]," and his reinvention as a powerful corporate strongman.


In recounting the evolution of Triple H's in-ring persona, Landis presents the interpretation that all of the wrestler's various [[gimmick]]s are different facets of the same character: an arrogant but deeply insecure man with an [[inferiority complex]], who never got over the pain of being overshadowed by better wrestlers. The retelling ends with Triple H's ascension to [[Chief Operating Officer]] of the WWE following his marriage to [[Stephanie McMahon]]; Landis suggests that Triple H sought power behind the scenes of the company because he could never achieve the glory that he truly desired in the ring.
In recounting the evolution of Triple H's in-ring persona, Landis presents the interpretation that all of the wrestler's various [[gimmick]]s are different facets of the same character: an arrogant but deeply insecure man with an [[inferiority complex]], who never got over the pain of being overshadowed by better wrestlers. The retelling ends with Triple H's ascension to [[Chief Operating Officer|COO]] of the WWE following his marriage to [[Stephanie McMahon]]; Landis suggests that Triple H sought power behind the scenes of the company because he could never achieve the glory that he truly desired in the ring.


==Cast==
==Cast==
===Main===
===Main===
*Max Landis as himself<ref name="Slashfilm">{{cite web |url=http://www.slashfilm.com/max-landis-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/ |title=VOTD: ''Wrestling Isn't Wrestling'' |author=Lussier, Germain |publisher=[[/Film]] |date=2015-03-17 |accessdate=2017-04-11}}</ref>
* Max Landis as himself<ref name="Slashfilm">{{cite web |url=http://www.slashfilm.com/max-landis-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/ |title=VOTD: ''Wrestling Isn't Wrestling'' |author=Lussier, Germain |publisher=[[/Film]] |date=2015-03-17 |accessdate=2017-04-11 |archive-date=2016-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112171241/http://www.slashfilm.com/max-landis-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Chloe Dykstra]] as [[Triple H]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Max Landis Packs Triple H’s Entire Career Into ‘Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling’|url=https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/max-landis-packs-triple-hs-entire-career-into-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|last=HeibergTwitter|first=Austin|date=2015-03-16|website=UPROXX|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
* [[Chloe Dykstra]] as [[Triple H]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/><ref>{{Cite web |title= Max Landis Packs Triple H's Entire Career Into 'Wrestling Isn't Wrestling' |url= https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/max-landis-packs-triple-hs-entire-career-into-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/ |last= Heiberg |first= Austin |date= Mar 16, 2015 |website= [[Uproxx]] |language= en-US |access-date= May 5, 2020 |archive-date= August 15, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200815200534/https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/max-landis-packs-triple-hs-entire-career-into-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
*Ana Walczak as [[Shawn Michaels]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* Ana Walczak as [[Shawn Michaels]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Lola Blanc]] as [[The Undertaker]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* [[Lola Blanc]] as [[The Undertaker]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Andi Layne as [[John Cena]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* Andi Layne as [[John Cena]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Lissy Smith, [[Clare Kramer]], and Chloe West as [[D-Generation X|DX Army]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* Lissy Smith, [[Clare Kramer]], and Chloe West as [[D-Generation X|DX Army]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Kandiss Lewis as [[Stephanie McMahon]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* Kandiss Lewis as [[Stephanie McMahon]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Nicole Stark as [[Randy Orton]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* Nicole Stark as [[Randy Orton]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Anna Akana]] as [[Dave Bautista|Batista]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* [[Anna Akana]] as [[Dave Bautista|Batista]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Sideara St. Claire as [[Ric Flair]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* Sideara St. Claire as [[Ric Flair]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Anna Lore as [[Daniel Bryan]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
* Anna Lore as [[Bryan Danielson|Daniel Bryan]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>


===Cameos===
===Cameos===
{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|
*[[Adam Savage]] and [[Jamie Hyneman]] as themselves<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Adam Savage]] and [[Jamie Hyneman]] as themselves<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Christina Scherer as [[Chris Benoit]]
*[[Christina Scherer]] as [[Chris Benoit]]
*Cat Alter as [[Chris Jericho]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Cat Alter as [[Chris Jericho]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Chris Bauer]] as a referee<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Chris Bauer]] as a referee<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
Line 54: Line 55:
*[[David Arquette]] as himself<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[David Arquette]] as himself<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Graham Denman as [[Paul Bearer]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Graham Denman as [[Paul Bearer]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Rose Chirillo [[Road Warrior Hawk]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Rose Chirillo as [[Road Warrior Hawk]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Charley Feldman as [[Road Warrior Animal]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*Charley Feldman as [[Road Warrior Animal]]<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Brittany Furlan]] as Goldberg<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Brittany Furlan]] as Goldberg<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
Line 79: Line 80:
*[[Rosa Salazar]], Moses Storm, and [[Shaun Brown (actor)|Shaun Brown]] as people watching ''[[Game of Thrones]]''<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Rosa Salazar]], Moses Storm, and [[Shaun Brown (actor)|Shaun Brown]] as people watching ''[[Game of Thrones]]''<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
*[[Dustin Milligan]] as Bartender 1
*[[Dustin Milligan]] as Bartender 1
*[[Mike Diva]] as Bartender 2<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Diva|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3850757/|website=IMDb|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
*[[Mike Diva]] as Bartender 2<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Diva|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3850757/|website=IMDb|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2022-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626205730/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3850757/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}


==Production==
==Production==
Funded entirely by Landis, the film was shot at thirty locations throughout Los Angeles over the course of three weeks. It features a cast of close to a hundred extras, with most people involved working for free.{{fact|date=August 2020}} [[Ron Howard]] was intended to make a cameo appearance, as he did in ''[[The Death and Return of Superman (film)|The Death and Return of Superman]]'', but was unavailable for filming.<ref name="Slashfilm"/> In a [[Reddit]] "Ask Me Anything" Landis mentioned that his father [[John Landis]] was initially hesitant to appear in the short due to an aversion to being involved in his son's work, but ultimately agreed once he saw the finished product.<ref>{{Cite web|title=r/SquaredCircle - Hi, I'm Max Landis. AMA.|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/306uns/hi_im_max_landis_ama/|website=reddit|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
Funded entirely by Landis, the film was shot at thirty locations throughout Los Angeles over the course of three weeks. It features a cast of close to a hundred extras, with most people involved working for free.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} [[Ron Howard]] was intended to make a cameo appearance, as he did in ''[[The Death and Return of Superman (film)|The Death and Return of Superman]]'', but was unavailable for filming.<ref name="Slashfilm"/> In a [[Reddit]] "Ask Me Anything" Landis mentioned that his father [[John Landis]] was initially hesitant to appear in the short due to an aversion to being involved in his son's work, but ultimately agreed once he saw the finished product.<ref>{{Cite web|title=r/SquaredCircle - Hi, I'm Max Landis. AMA.|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/306uns/hi_im_max_landis_ama/|website=reddit|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2023-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205230105/https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/306uns/hi_im_max_landis_ama/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
Writing for the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', Michael Calia said that Landis's characterization of wrestling as "packed with the stuff of fiction, both good and terrible" was "not exactly a new insight", but said that Landis "defends wrestling in a fun, inventive way".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/03/17/max-landis-defends-the-power-of-wwe-storytelling-in-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|title=Max Landis Defends the Power of WWE Storytelling in ‘Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling’|newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]]|last=Calia|first=Michael|date=March 17, 2015|accessdate=October 30, 2016}}</ref> Writing for Progressive Boink, Bill Hanstock praised the short for not only serving as a comprehensive history of the Triple H character, but for delving into the "subtext, motive and narrative arc for a character that didn't really occur to me in precisely this way before."<ref>{{Cite web|title='Wrestling Isn't Wrestling' is terrific|url=https://www.progressiveboink.com/2015/3/17/8239289/wrestling-isnt-wrestling-max-landis|last=Hanstock|first=Bill|date=2015-03-17|website=Progressive Boink|language=en|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> Users on [[Letterboxd]] currently rate the film 3.7 out of 5.<ref>{{Citation|title=Wrestling Isn't Wrestling (2015)|url=https://letterboxd.com/film/wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|language=en|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
Writing for the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', Michael Calia said that Landis's characterization of wrestling as "packed with the stuff of fiction, both good and terrible" was "not exactly a new insight", but said that Landis "defends wrestling in a fun, inventive way".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/03/17/max-landis-defends-the-power-of-wwe-storytelling-in-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|title=Max Landis Defends the Power of WWE Storytelling in 'Wrestling Isn't Wrestling'|newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]]|last=Calia|first=Michael|date=March 17, 2015|accessdate=October 30, 2016|archive-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114025813/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/03/17/max-landis-defends-the-power-of-wwe-storytelling-in-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|url-status=live}}</ref> Writing for Progressive Boink, Bill Hanstock praised the short for not only serving as a comprehensive history of the Triple H character, but for delving into the "subtext, motive and narrative arc for a character that didn't really occur to me in precisely this way before."<ref>{{Cite web|title='Wrestling Isn't Wrestling' is terrific|url=https://www.progressiveboink.com/2015/3/17/8239289/wrestling-isnt-wrestling-max-landis|last=Hanstock|first=Bill|date=2015-03-17|website=Progressive Boink|language=en|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2021-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918105902/https://www.progressiveboink.com/2015/3/17/8239289/wrestling-isnt-wrestling-max-landis|url-status=live}}</ref> Users on [[Letterboxd]] currently rate the film 3.7 out of 5.<ref>{{Citation|title=Wrestling Isn't Wrestling (2015)|url=https://letterboxd.com/film/wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|language=en|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2023-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128103432/https://letterboxd.com/film/wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Initially, it was reported by [[Bryan Alvarez]] that employees of the WWE were told not to publicly comment on the video.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWE Tells Wrestlers Not To Tweet About Triple H Biopic Parody, Director Comments|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2015/03/wwe-tells-wrestlers-not-to-tweet-about-triple-h-biopic-591567/|date=2015-03-20|website=Wrestling Inc.|language=en|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> Max Landis himself, however, responded to this on Twitter and clarified that this was simply due to the videos non family friendly content.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWE: Backstage Reaction to "Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling"|url=https://dailyddt.com/2015/03/21/wwe-backstage-reaction-to-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|date=2015-03-21|website=Daily DDT|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> The video was eventually praised by [[Triple H]] and [[Stephanie McMahon]], both of whom it depicts as characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/563363-triple-h-stephanie-respond-to-wrestling-isnt-wrestling-video-new-wwe-creative-member-on-ring-of-honor-tv-this-weekend|title=Triple H & Stephanie Respond to "Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling" Video, New WWE Creative Member on Ring of Honor TV This Weekend|publisher=wrestlezone.com|last=Killam|first=Mike|date=March 22, 2015|accessdate=October 30, 2016}}</ref> The short earned Landis a position as a [[creative consultant]] on ''[[WWE Raw]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2016/0221/607846/wrestling-isnt-wrestling-creator-has-been-a-consultant-for-wwe/|title='Wrestling Isn't Wrestling' Creator Says He's Been A Consultant For WWE For The Past Year|last=Sapp|first=Sean Ross|publisher=Wrestling Inc|date=February 21, 2016}}</ref>
Initially, it was reported by [[Bryan Alvarez]] that employees of the WWE were told not to publicly comment on the video.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWE Tells Wrestlers Not To Tweet About Triple H Biopic Parody, Director Comments|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2015/03/wwe-tells-wrestlers-not-to-tweet-about-triple-h-biopic-591567/|date=2015-03-20|website=Wrestling Inc.|language=en|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2023-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128094452/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2015/03/wwe-tells-wrestlers-not-to-tweet-about-triple-h-biopic-591567/|url-status=live}}</ref> Max Landis himself, however, responded to this on Twitter and clarified that this was simply due to the videos non family friendly content.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWE: Backstage Reaction to "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling"|url=https://dailyddt.com/2015/03/21/wwe-backstage-reaction-to-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|date=2015-03-21|website=Daily DDT|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2020-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124063613/https://dailyddt.com/2015/03/21/wwe-backstage-reaction-to-wrestling-isnt-wrestling/|url-status=live}}</ref> The video was eventually praised by [[Triple H]] and [[Stephanie McMahon]], both of whom it depicts as characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/563363-triple-h-stephanie-respond-to-wrestling-isnt-wrestling-video-new-wwe-creative-member-on-ring-of-honor-tv-this-weekend|title=Triple H & Stephanie Respond to "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling" Video, New WWE Creative Member on Ring of Honor TV This Weekend|publisher=wrestlezone.com|last=Killam|first=Mike|date=March 22, 2015|accessdate=October 30, 2016|archive-date=October 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031024550/http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/563363-triple-h-stephanie-respond-to-wrestling-isnt-wrestling-video-new-wwe-creative-member-on-ring-of-honor-tv-this-weekend|url-status=live}}</ref> The short earned Landis a position as a [[creative consultant]] on ''[[WWE Raw]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2016/0221/607846/wrestling-isnt-wrestling-creator-has-been-a-consultant-for-wwe/|title='Wrestling Isn't Wrestling' Creator Says He's Been A Consultant For WWE For The Past Year|last=Sapp|first=Sean Ross|publisher=Wrestling Inc|date=February 21, 2016|access-date=October 30, 2016|archive-date=October 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031030459/http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2016/0221/607846/wrestling-isnt-wrestling-creator-has-been-a-consultant-for-wwe/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 93: Line 95:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|4532032}}
* {{IMDb title|4532032}}
* {{youtube|VYvMOf3hsGA|Wrestling Isn't Wrestling}}


{{Max Landis}}
{{Max Landis}}
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[[Category:2015 short films]]
[[Category:2015 short films]]
[[Category:2015 comedy films]]
[[Category:2015 comedy films]]
[[Category:American comedy films]]
[[Category:American comedy short films]]
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[[Category:American short films]]
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[[Category:American films]]
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[[Category:Comedy short films]]
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[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Max Landis]]
[[Category:Films directed by Max Landis]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
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[[Category:Viral videos]]
[[Category:Viral videos]]
[[Category:2015 YouTube videos]]
[[Category:2015 YouTube videos]]
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[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
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[[Category:2010s American films]]
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[[Category:American wrestling films]]
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[[Category:Sports short films]]

Latest revision as of 16:10, 25 June 2024

Wrestling Isn't Wrestling
Promotional poster parodying The Social Network
Directed byMax Landis
Written byMax Landis
Produced by
  • Shyam Sengupta
  • Dave Holton
  • Matt Cohen
StarringMax Landis
Chloe Dykstra
Ana Walczak
Lola Blanc
Andi Layne
CinematographyStephen Sorace
Edited byAndy Holton
Music byEvan Goldman
Production
company
Adjacent LA
Release date
  • March 16, 2015 (2015-03-16)
Running time
24 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Wrestling Isn't Wrestling is a 2015 short film written and directed by Max Landis. Released for free on YouTube, the film retells the story of WWE professional wrestler Triple H. Like Landis's 2012 short The Death and Return of Superman, it consists of a monologue by Landis on the subject matter, accompanied by sequences with actors performing the parts in the story.

Plot

[edit]

In response to the common criticism that professional wrestling is "fake," Max Landis attempts to defend the sport as a legitimately compelling form of fiction. To make this point, he points out that modern professional wrestling contains multiple overtly unrealistic elements that hinge on willing suspension of disbelief, and notes that the scripted nature of wrestling matches doesn't make their stunt-work and choreography any less spectacular.

In an effort to prove that wrestling can be as entertaining as any other form of fiction, Landis recounts the story of his favorite wrestler Paul Levesque, better known by his ring name "Triple H". His retelling of Triple H's wrestling career starts with his early days as the wealthy and snobbish "Hunter Hearst Helmsley," continues with his friendship with Shawn Michaels and his co-founding of the rebellious and rambunctious "D-Generation X," and ultimately recounts his reign as World Heavyweight Champion, his time as the brutal and paranoid leader of "Evolution," and his reinvention as a powerful corporate strongman.

In recounting the evolution of Triple H's in-ring persona, Landis presents the interpretation that all of the wrestler's various gimmicks are different facets of the same character: an arrogant but deeply insecure man with an inferiority complex, who never got over the pain of being overshadowed by better wrestlers. The retelling ends with Triple H's ascension to COO of the WWE following his marriage to Stephanie McMahon; Landis suggests that Triple H sought power behind the scenes of the company because he could never achieve the glory that he truly desired in the ring.

Cast

[edit]

Main

[edit]

Cameos

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Funded entirely by Landis, the film was shot at thirty locations throughout Los Angeles over the course of three weeks. It features a cast of close to a hundred extras, with most people involved working for free.[citation needed] Ron Howard was intended to make a cameo appearance, as he did in The Death and Return of Superman, but was unavailable for filming.[1] In a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" Landis mentioned that his father John Landis was initially hesitant to appear in the short due to an aversion to being involved in his son's work, but ultimately agreed once he saw the finished product.[4]

Reception

[edit]

Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Michael Calia said that Landis's characterization of wrestling as "packed with the stuff of fiction, both good and terrible" was "not exactly a new insight", but said that Landis "defends wrestling in a fun, inventive way".[5] Writing for Progressive Boink, Bill Hanstock praised the short for not only serving as a comprehensive history of the Triple H character, but for delving into the "subtext, motive and narrative arc for a character that didn't really occur to me in precisely this way before."[6] Users on Letterboxd currently rate the film 3.7 out of 5.[7]

Initially, it was reported by Bryan Alvarez that employees of the WWE were told not to publicly comment on the video.[8] Max Landis himself, however, responded to this on Twitter and clarified that this was simply due to the videos non family friendly content.[9] The video was eventually praised by Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, both of whom it depicts as characters.[10] The short earned Landis a position as a creative consultant on WWE Raw.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap Lussier, Germain (2015-03-17). "VOTD: Wrestling Isn't Wrestling". /Film. Archived from the original on 2016-11-12. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
  2. ^ Heiberg, Austin (Mar 16, 2015). "Max Landis Packs Triple H's Entire Career Into 'Wrestling Isn't Wrestling'". Uproxx. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mike Diva". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  4. ^ "r/SquaredCircle - Hi, I'm Max Landis. AMA". reddit. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  5. ^ Calia, Michael (March 17, 2015). "Max Landis Defends the Power of WWE Storytelling in 'Wrestling Isn't Wrestling'". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  6. ^ Hanstock, Bill (2015-03-17). "'Wrestling Isn't Wrestling' is terrific". Progressive Boink. Archived from the original on 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  7. ^ Wrestling Isn't Wrestling (2015), archived from the original on 2023-01-28, retrieved 2020-05-11
  8. ^ "WWE Tells Wrestlers Not To Tweet About Triple H Biopic Parody, Director Comments". Wrestling Inc. 2015-03-20. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  9. ^ "WWE: Backstage Reaction to "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling"". Daily DDT. 2015-03-21. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  10. ^ Killam, Mike (March 22, 2015). "Triple H & Stephanie Respond to "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling" Video, New WWE Creative Member on Ring of Honor TV This Weekend". wrestlezone.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  11. ^ Sapp, Sean Ross (February 21, 2016). "'Wrestling Isn't Wrestling' Creator Says He's Been A Consultant For WWE For The Past Year". Wrestling Inc. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
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