Americans can get quite excitable about sports, even the sillier ones like wrestling. Not to be confused with the macho panto antics of the likes of the WWE and the like, wrestling is essentially two opponents vigorously cuddling on a mat.

But it’s taken seriously enough whereby students can earn a full university scholarship if their good enough at it.

This real-life story would be fairly unexceptional if it wasn’t based on the truly remarkable life of Anthony Rubbles, who was born with a leg missing.

Living with his mom Judy (Jennifer Lopez), step-dad Rick (Bobby Cannavale) and a number of younger brothers and sisters is Anthony (Jharrel Jerome).

Despite being born with one leg, it hasn’t stopped Anthony from being able to participate in the sport of wrestling; in fact, he’s pretty darn good at it, so much so that he’s been offered a full scholarship at a university to take part in their wrestling program. Although flattered, it’s not what he wants; he wants to go to another college where many of the greats have gone.

Meanwhile, things are getting more difficult at home, with his parents fighting more regularly, and his mom coming out of it worse.

Already physically disadvantage, and with pressures at home growing, Anthony pursues his dream of being the best wrestler there is, but are the challenges ahead of him just too great?

William Goldenberg has spent most of his professional career as an editor for some impressive names, such as Michael Mann, Michael Bay, Kathryn Bigelow and Paul Greengrass. He makes his directorial debut here however, with this sports biopic.

It is an impressive story of a young man facing adversity in many forms, and choosing to face them head on and wrestle them to the ground, both figuratively and literally.

And even if you’re not that enamoured with wrestling itself, and who could blame you, Anthony’s journey is most definitely worth following.

Jerome certainly impresses as Robles; not only does he have to deal with the physicality of the role, which sees him as an able-bodied actor act one-legged throughout, which can’t have been easy, but also tap into the emotional weight of the piece, which is substantial, with all the pressures in his home life.

It’s a little formulaic, but these sport biopics often are, and it certainly doesn’t make the main protagonist’s achievements any less astonishing.

And even if you’re not a fan of wrestling, Goldenberg still manages to keep the action sequences engaging, despite all the sweaty cuddling taking place.

He also gets a lot of help from a robust cast, that also includes Michael Peña and Don Cheadle, that finds both of whom playing coaches, enriching the experience overall.

It’s a feel-good flick for sure, offering inspiration and heart in equal measure, making it hugely endearing, as long as you can wrap your head, left arm and right leg around the fact it’s about wrestling.