evilwillhunting-633-904681
I was a WWF fan in the 80s. I was a devout watcher, following the weekly feuds of colorful rasslers like Hulk Hogan, Ted Dibiase, Randy Savage, and Jake "The Snake" Roberts.I outgrew the pseudo-sport in my mid-teens, but I have kept an eye on the further lives on the heroes of my youth. So many of them met with early deaths, and mostly because of substance abuse.Jake Roberts was almost a punchline for this. Him and Scott Hall were so badly out of control.... DUIs, arrests, embarrassing public displays.... that everyone was amazed they were still alive.Jake was a memorable character... as a face (a good guy) he was sinister, and as a heel (a bad guy) he was downright malevolent. He was in shape but never was as muscular as most of the WWF talent.But when we first see him, it drives home the reality of what destructive living does to you. He looks sickly. He has a gigantic gut. His legs and arms have withered away to bony sticks. At this time, he's in his late 50s and is far too young to be looking that old. In fact he looked to be on Death's Door. Then DDP comes to the rescue. It shows Jake's recovery from alcohol and drugs. It's not just any celebrity rehab -- this is a man who basically was the face of substance abuse. A man who had been through dozens (literally) of rehab programs.What makes this different from most movies like this... is that Jake backslides. A lot. So many movies like this show them at rock bottom and then endeavoring to get clean, and making it in one big arc. That's not anywhere near how addiction recovery works. Jake seems to be doing great, and then he turns up drunk again. He loathes himself but freely admits he's going to do it again. It's frustrating, like two steps forward but three steps back. For this, it's a very real look at how substance abuse recovery is a very, very long road with a lot of setbacks. Even if you don't watch wrestling (or hate it), you still will be moved by this documentary. It not only shows Jake's personal pain, but it shows how his family (particularly his adult children) are hurt by his actions. Even when things are looking up, most of them (particularly his sons) are dubious that this time will be different.In the end, Jake is clean. Will he stay clean? Probably not. But it's a very good and sometimes heartwrenching look into the world of substance abuse.
fieldshane
I grew up watching WCW and WWF, and a lot of the people in this show. This is, by far, the best documentary I've ever seen. It's put together very well, it gets the viewer involved in emotional highs and lows.I had tears in my eyes the majority of this show. Great documentary, and GREAT story. The way that commentary was added after the fact, mixed in with real-time commentary gave it something special. I've seen other wrestling documentaries, but even the NWO one doesn't come close to this. And that was a great one I thought.It's great to see people coming together. Old friends, long-time fans, etc., coming together for the rehab (physically, but more importantly emotionally) for Jake the Snake.
ironhorse_iv
The documentary is in many ways a real-life version of Darren Aronofsky's 2008's The Wrestler, but unlike that tragedy fall from grace movie. This movie directed by Steve Yu, is an unfiltered tale of redemption. It's about an everyman tying to redeem himself, after years of drug abuse. It chronicles a beaten-down, semi-retired wrestler, Jake 'The Snake' Roberts (Aurelian Smith Jr.) trying to recapture his glory days by getting him, back into shape by yoga with the help of his friend and former wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page (Page Joseph Falkinburg). But it's become more of that, when another ex-wrestler, Scott Hall was introduce into Jake 'The Snake' Roberts & Diamond Dallas Page's program. While, yes, it takes away, a lot of the screen-time, away from Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, but it also nice to see that he was also getting help for his problems with substance abuse. It's also nice to see, these two different types of men, try to work and live, each other. You get to see, the good and bad side with their relationship. While, the movie does show some relapse between Jake 'The Snake' Roberts trying to kick the habit, however, it's not as disheartening as his last appearance in a documentary. The 1999 documentary film, Beyond the Mat, exposed fans to the career low of him. Yes, there is a lot NSFW language, and stories about child abuse, but unlike, Beyond the Mat, this movie doesn't go, that dark into his demons. The movie is surprising, more uplifting than depressing. You really see, the positive change within Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, being showcase here. However, there were some flaws that the movie fails to talk about, these three men. Some of the historical facts about the men, isn't that true. First off, in a minor note, the DDT was a move that Jake 'The Snake' Roberts might not have invented. In truth, the earliest known practitioner of the move was Mexican wrestler Black Gordman, who frequently performed it during the 1970s. Another thing, that kinda bug me, is why the movie interview, several wrestlers that had little to do with Jake's career, like Chris Jericho (Chris Irvine) or Edge (Adam Copeland). I don't remember, much of them, hanging out with Jake 'the Snake' Roberts that much, nor being huge fans of his work. It's seem a bit, out of the blue. Another thing, the movie doesn't talk about is, how the movie makes no mention of Roberts and Hall, going to a WWE Sponsor drug rehabilitation in 2007 & 2010, before the film supposed started in 2012, nor does explain, why DDP even started DDP Yoga. You would think the movie would give some time, explaining, that after his own wrestling career ended, Page found himself racked with pain. Damaged vertebrae caused several specialists to tell him his only option was surgery. Page instead found yoga. Since then, he has crafted his own brand of exercise that borrows heavily from American-style version of "Ashtanga Style". Yes, the film does showcase, a few footage of them doing the exercises of this American-style yoga; the movie never explain, why this work-out help Jake 'the Snake' Roberts and Scott Hall, so well, when other health exercises didn't. The movie makes it, seem like DDP Yoga is the only thing, that save Jake 'the Snake' Roberts & Scott Hall's life, when it wasn't. I would love, to see, more scenes with Roberts and Hall interacting with their ever-growing families. In my opinion, I believe that's the main reason, why they were save. There were far, too little scenes with them, interacting with their sons and daughters. Another thing, that the movie doesn't explain, is how Jake 'The Snake' Roberts is a supposedly a born-again Christian. You would think the movie would showcase, a bit about his newly found faith, rather than going with the over-the top Rocky 3 friendship type ending. Don't get me wrong, I think, his friendship with DDP, played a big part of his life, but his new belief in God, probably played a bigger factor in his change. The last thing, I felt the movie should had mention, was his struggles with cancer. After all, between his times training for the Royal Rumble in 2014, and his Hall of Fame speech, later that year; he was diagnosed with cancer. You would think the movie would, use that, as a good way, to show, how Jake 'The Snake' Roberts dealt with life's tribulation, being sober; but the movie doesn't. I guess, it wouldn't fit, with the overall theme of tribute toward the end of the film. Overall: As of early 2016, it's nice to see Jake is back in shape, clean, and is once again close with his family thanks to the help of his friends and family. It made for a very entertaining and emotional ride. This documentary is worth-checking out.
