Aaron Leong’s latest MMA drama is currently available on digital in the U.S. through Lionsgate with Notorious Nick, which is also streaming on Tubi. The film stars Cody Christian, who takes on the title role based on the true story of a professional MMA fighter who climbed his way into the arena, conquering multiple opponents on both sides of the octagon, battling skilled fighters, and an ableist sports political millieu that nearly cost him his career.
Such was the case for Nick Newell (Christian), born with a congenital defect that left him with only one fully grown arm since birth and forced to cope with incessant bullying from childhood. He’s not alone though, through the help and companionship of fellow classmate Avi (Cameron James Matthews). Their friendship provenly stands the test of time as the two grow from boyhood to young adulthood and work to join their school’s wrestling team until one day, Nick loses a big match and decides to quit.
Years later, Nick and Avi reunite when Avi ultimately winds up compelling Nick to join him in MMA training. Just as a major bout is on the horizon, tragedy strikes, landing Nick a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to begin a prospective career in MMA, one in which not only will he have to continously train harder than anyone ever has, but to thicken his skin if he’s to defend his credibility against near-insurmountable odds when an organizational panel nearly derails his career.
I hadn’t seen “Teen Wolf” or anything Christian starred in prior to this point, so I was pretty new to his acting and his work, and with an inspirational drama like Notorious Nick seemingly right up my alley with co-stars Elisabeth Röhm, Barry Livingston, and Kevin Pollak among the supporting cast. Röhm stars as Nick’s mother, who makes certain sacrifices along the way to fortify Nick’s earlier wrestling prospects, with Livingston in the role of his wrestling coach Jeremy, and Pollak as Alex, the fight promoter who works to help get Nick the traction he needs to ascend the ranks.
One other upside to being introduced to Christian in this film is that he masters the role brilliantly both dramatically and physically, with the key special effect impressively done to make Christian look convincing as our dauntless protagonist. Story and characterization get a little adventureous at times, as well as some of the dialogue, including scenes where Rohm’s character takes centerstage; There’s somewhat of an abrupt tonal shift with her character that sort of leaves you wondering if the script didn’t try hard enough to develop things on this end before at least one crucial scene where she gets written in, and it’s almost a little overbearing in that it takes away from our main character’s own progression.
Save for the few moments like these that make the film sound more worse for wear than it is, Notorious Nick has lots of heart and gumption throughout. The wrestling sequences and fight scenes are choreographed, well-shot, and brutal enough that they earn your attention, as well as sympathy for our main hero as he puts on a show on how to conquer the odds using just two legs, one arm and a whole lot of willpower and determination.
Leong crafts a top-to-bottom sports MMA drama that may not stand out as a mere direct-to-DVD or digital niche release, but it follows a formula and serves its purpose with a story that captivates and inspires as it intends to, which in itself makes this film a knockout.