52
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 76PolygonPetrana RadulovicPolygonPetrana RadulovicThe concept of a kid getting magical powers that help him escape his mundane life isn’t anything new, but The Main Event stands out by avoiding overplayed clichés and focusing on the emotional message.
- The Main Event is a light comedy that takes the joys of a real WWE match — the escapism, the performance — and gives them a kid-centric spin. Karas balances the movie’s clowning with a human story, while showing empathy for childhood growing pains.
- 52TheWrapSteve PondTheWrapSteve PondThe Main Event is an easy enough ride for kids who are stuck at home and like to see people bash each other. Will parents want to stick it out, too? That’s a tougher question for a movie about magic that doesn’t really have too much magic of its own.
- 50VarietyCourtney HowardVarietyCourtney HowardEven though the feature reflects WWE’s core values built on family, teamwork and inspirational aspirations, and contains healthy messages about proving one’s mettle using wit and wisdom, The Main Event sags far too frequently.
- 50IGNMatt FowlerIGNMatt FowlerThe story's lifted a bit by some of the solid comedic actors, and the WWE Superstars who make a run-in, but when the story isn't sloppy, it's paint-by-numbers.
- 50Screen RantSandy SchaeferScreen RantSandy SchaeferBoth amusingly ridiculous and completely by the numbers, The Main Event makes for generally watchable (though very disposable) kid-friendly fluff.
- 40Los Angeles TimesMichael OrdoñaLos Angeles TimesMichael OrdoñaThe filmmakers cast several comic performers — Adam Pally as the dad, Tichina Arnold as the grandmother, Ken Marino as the bad guy — but there aren’t really opportunities for them to shine. Arnold seems to have the most fun with it. The Main Event, sadly, never gets off the mat.
- 38RogerEbert.comNick AllenRogerEbert.comNick AllenIt's not about the hard work that's intrinsic with all of wrestling, so much as the WWE's open willingness to sacrifice its core values for lazy family-friendly amusement.