Sattar review

Everyone loves an underdog story, especially in the sports world. So it’s no surprise that this wrestling comedy satar – which proved so successful at home in Saudi Arabia that it was eliminated Avatar: the path of water off the top spot at the box office, it has a UK theatrical release. It is only the second Saudi film to receive a UK theatrical release, after Haifaa’s excellent feminist coming-of-age film al-Mansour. Wajda. While with humor satar it doesn’t reach the same lofty narrative heights as that film; Still, there’s certainly enough appeal for all in Simon Pegg’s lead role and Ibrahim Al Hajjaj’s Nick Frost to draw viewers beyond the UK’s Arab demographic and keep them engaged in Saad’s journey.

Al Hajjaj, a famous actor and comedian from Saudi Arabia certainly has a brilliant talent for comedic timing. The beat of him a belayer with a secret obsession with wrestling changes his personality depending on his circumstances: socialite with his colleagues, shy with his girlfriend and stepmother, or intensely energetic when recreating classic wrestling scenarios with action figures. He’s a joy to watch, as is his lack of shyness when it comes to portraying the painful fight scenes, which director Abdullah Al-Arak plays with zealous buffoonery. There’s a touch of kitsch to the set design of this underworld wrestling where Saad takes some brutal punches before some textbook edits, but the animatedly edited training scenes set him on his way to victory. . .

Saad’s manager, Ali Hogain (Abdulaziz Alshehri), who based his entire image on Hulk Hogan, brings an intense and overwhelming joy to the proceedings, his baritone voice and deep throat helping the jokes pass with more force. But the establishment of their partnership and the repetitive introduction of new eccentric fighters Saad faces slows the pace, before the script (by Ibraheem Alkhairallah and Ayman Wattar) delivers some twists.

satar it doesn’t break the formula of those kinds of sports jokes. And for all its fun masculine energy, its female characters remain one-note stereotypes. It sure is closer Cuban fury What dodgeball — but there’s enough physical comedy, dry wit, funny character beats, and a sick Arabic rap soundtrack to earn your applause.