Choke on it, Daniel Day-Lewis: David Arquette is the most committed method actor of our generation, risking his mental and physical health to return to the complex role that made him “the most hated man in wrestling.”
If you only know Arquette as the goofy cop Dewey in the Scream horror franchise, or even just as the guy who changed Courtney Cox’s surname to Courtney Cox-Arquette for a few seasons of Friends, think again. The documentary You Cannot Kill David Arquette tells a bizarre sports story you won’t want to miss. It’s available now on Stan for subscribers, and also to rent or buy on demand via Apple TV.
The love-hate relationship between Arquette and the World Championship Wrestling promotion started out so nicely, with the actor, a lifelong fan of the sport, being cast in the poorly-received buddy comedy Ready To Rumble. To promote the film, Arquette reluctantly agreed to take part in a series of fights in which he would triumph over beloved WCW Champions, a storyline reviled by fans who hated seeing a non-wrestler defeat their sporting heroes.
With the WCW now defunct and his body battling through middle-age and even a heart attack, the character actor makes an unexpected return to the ropes, once and for all trying to salvage his athletic reputation and silence his haters. The kinetic trailer below shows Arquette at his most flabby and self-loathing: “Media thinks I’m a bit of a joke, Hollywood doesn’t take me seriously. I’d love to be able to wrestle, to prove myself.”
No matter how unflattering all the vomiting and failing and boastfulness seems, it’s also obvious that Arquette is at least somewhat in charge of his portrayal here, making this one of the more unusual vanity docos in recent memory.
If you liked Prime Video‘s recent, bittersweet Val Kilmer documentary, You Cannot Kill David Arquette may give you the same blend of awe and discomfort at the ravages of celeb life. You can check out this punchy feature on Stan, or watch it on demand through digital download on Apple TV.
