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5.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Rasslin' Round remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for early animation experiments, sure. It's not going to change your life, but it's a quick trip back to a time when everything felt a little looser and more handmade. If you hate old-school cartoons with their rhythmic, repetitive movements, stay away. This one is for the curious types who like seeing how the sausage was made back in the day.
There's something genuinely charming about how quickly Willie jumps from shining a shoe to acting like he’s ready for the heavyweight title. He’s just a kid with a dirty rag and a dream, but the way he talks, you’d think he’s been training in a barn somewhere. The confidence is actually kind of impressive.
The animation style feels very much like an Ub Iwerks production—lots of rubbery limbs and background gags that don't always connect to the main bit. It’s got that signature bounce. You can tell they were just having fun with the physics of it all.
I caught myself staring at the background details more than the actual wrestling choreography. There’s a specific newspaper texture that looks like it was drawn by someone who really, really didn't want to draw a newspaper. It’s just squiggly lines that somehow read as 'news.' I love that kind of shortcut.
It’s not as dark as something like Morphium, but it has a similar 'we're just throwing ideas at the wall' energy. It’s light. It’s silly. It’s mostly just a kid lying to his face off to feel important for a minute.
The pacing is a bit weird. One minute he's bragging, the next he's practically selling the fight. Then it just… stops. Like the animator just ran out of coffee or film stock.
It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Muzi v offsidu, even if the subject matter is totally different. They both have that 'let's keep the screen busy' vibe. Honestly, I’ve seen worse ways to spend five minutes. 👟🥊