In the early 2000s, David Arquette entered the world of professional wrestling to promote 'Ready To Rumble (2000)'. After a few matches, he received the world title in a scripted scenario designed to draw attention to the sport. This didn't go down well with most wrestling fans, who saw it as a slap in the face to not only them but also the wrestlers who devoted their entire lives getting ready to rumble. Arquette's introduction to wrestling was already seen as a Hollywood handout, a bad joke played at the expense of the true fans, but his winning of the title was the icing on the cake. Arquette was the most hated wrestler, maybe even person, in the world... at least, that's what it felt like to him. It took twenty years, but Arquette finally decided he didn't want to be taken as a joke anymore; he decided to prove all of wrestling fandom wrong; he decided to re-enter the world of professional wrestling for real.
The result of that re-entry is 'You Cannot Kill David Arquette (2020)', a documentary that details the actor's very real reintegration into the community he had been ostracised from. It's essentially a vanity piece, a portrait of a surprisingly likeable yet undeniably flawed would-be Hollywood star (that's right, Hollywood ostracised him too). Whether Arquette is picking at old wounds out of a genuine desire to finish what he started or out of a need to reactivate the relevance he believes was so cruelly stolen from him is almost irrelevant. As is the blurry line between scripted and sincere, which reflects wrestling's own sly subversions of reality. The only thing that matters is that the end result is an endearing and involving experience that takes you on a distinct journey along with its star. Arquette appears to have an honest passion for wrestling, able to list off a whole host of childhood favourites. His bitterness towards his career is balanced with his joy for the sport, the sense that he truly cares what the fans think and is only seeking to prove that he always took them as seriously as he wants them to take him. When his infectious energy is met with good faith, the wrestling sequences are surprisingly fun (unlike the stories they tell, the matches are real). When it's met with bad faith, however, they're downright upsetting. On two occasions, Arquette is subjected to a match in which his opponents seek to make an example of him, to do him harm for the damage they believe he did to their livelihoods. The worst of these sees Arquette in the hospital with a life-threatening wound on the neck, the result of a sadistic series of slashings that surely can't have been part of the plan. It's painful, unpleasant and impossible to look away from; you feel as though a friend is being hurt in front of you, but you can't do anything except will them to survive. Thankfully, these moments highlight Arquette's determination and genuine nature, while also portraying his opponents as petty and cruel. In the context of the whole journey, they're almost necessary dark points. That's because the narrative framing of the documentary makes sure to position it as a tale of redemption. Whether this reflects real life is, as always, debatable, but it sure makes for an entertaining affair. Though it sometimes lacks real drive and generally feels rather 'made for TV', the picture is an enjoyable and affecting affair throughout. It isn't overly vain or self-involved, painting Arquette and his journey in a good light (which I'm sure is its intention) without feeling false or shying away from the darker elements of either aspect. It's a good documentary that's entertaining even for those who are apathetic towards professional wrestling.
