I, Tonya is a hoot. It’s a mockumentary
version of the crazy shenanigans that occurred with the U.S Figure Skating
program leading up to the Olympics. Tonya Harding, scrappy unconventional
skater with the ability to turn axels versus the ice princess, Nancy
Kerrigan. We hear “interviews” with Tonya, played by Margot Robbie,
saying she did not know anything about the plan to get Nancy out of her way.
The husband, Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan), is not the brightest guy in the
world. His buddy and Tonya’s bodyguard, Scott, are bumbling idiots. And
finally, La Vona Golden, Tonya’s mom, is brilliantly played by Allison Janney
(who won a Golden Globe for this role) and she’s harsh. She pushes Tonya to
excel. She smokes, drinks, curses at the rink, and is just a piece of work.
All in all, did Tonya know that Scott was going to arrange
for Nancy’s knee to be whammed by a steel bar? Did Jeff really arrange for this
to occur or was he just going for threats? We’ll never know and you have
to watch this film with tongue in cheek appreciation. It’s snarky and
hilarious.
From a review in EW – “absurd, irreverent, piercing
portrayal of a life and career in unchecked and checkered glory”. I,
Tonya proved to be a fun film to see on a cold day.