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Going to the Mat

Play trailer Poster for Going to the Mat TV-G 2004 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A blind teenager (Andrew Lawrence) becomes a high-school wrestler after his family moves from New York to the Midwest.

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Going to the Mat

Critics Reviews

View All (4) Critics Reviews
Lynne Heffley Los Angeles Times It may be as subtle as an after-school special, but... "Going to the Mat," about a blind teenager who wrestles his way to acceptance and self-discovery, is above average, enjoyable family fare. Sep 17, 2019 Full Review Laura Fries Variety Although a bit heavy on the slo-mo sports sequence, [Stuart] Gillard otherwise nicely balances action with drama, touching on universal teen themes of alienation and the undo pressures of high school sports. Sep 17, 2019 Full Review Alistair Lawrence Common Sense Media Sports drama has positive representations; some bullying. Rated: 3/5 Jul 14, 2020 Full Review Scott D. Pierce Deseret News (Salt Lake City) "Going to the Mat" is actually pretty predictable. You aren't expecting something other than a happy ending from a Disney Channel movie, are you? Sep 17, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (63) audience reviews
SkyRo P "Going to the Mat" was a beloved Disney Channel movie starring Andre Lawrence during the Lawrence brothers' heyday in the early 2000s. The plot centered around a visually impaired student who joins the school wrestling team and faces various challenges. The film beautifully showcased the bonds formed among the characters, although some viewers believed that John's character could have been fleshed out more for added depth. Additionally, Jace's character, while understandably dealing with frustrations due to his disability, came across as overly harsh at times. While the character development was generally strong, some felt that a particular romantic relationship could have been more prominently featured, especially regarding Jace's storyline. Despite these critiques, many viewers enjoyed the movie and found it to be a heartwarming watch, even if it tends to slip from memory until stumbled upon by chance. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/18/24 Full Review Rosana B Filminho lindo, com roteiro simples, emocionante e eficiente, que eu até pensei ser mais uma biografia como tantas outras que a Disney sempre faz que nos cativam e nos fazem chorar e deixar o coração quentinho, com lindas lições de moral e superação, amizade, família, humildade e união... O lindinho dos irmãos Lawrence e o fofo do Khleo Thomas… s2.. Extremamente fofinho e Lindinho... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This story of a blind teen in the grueling and strategic sport of wrestling is not only inspiring but full of heart and humor. being told in a sharp narrative and engaging characters. this DCOM makes for a satisfying entry. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member This Disney Channel movie was pretty good. Andrew Lawrence, Khleo Thomas, Billy Aaron Brown, D.B. Sweeney, Wayne Brady, and the rest of the cast did a pretty good job in this movie. The story of the movie was inspirational, dramatic, and interesting. It's about doing something to try and fit in with a new crowd and believing in yourself and your friends to be better than they think they can be. If you're a Disney+ member, you should watch this movie sometime. You'll probably enjoy it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Jace Newfield is a very brave blind kid to compete in wrestling! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Your average Disney movie Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Going to the Mat

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A blind teenager (Andrew Lawrence) becomes a high-school wrestler after his family moves from New York to the Midwest.
Director
Stuart Gillard
Producer
Don Schain
Screenwriter
Christopher Nolan, Laurie Nolan, Steve Bloom, Stu Krieger
Production Co
Columbia
Rating
TV-G
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 22, 2016
Runtime
1h 30m
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