'I, Tonya' Features a Fierce, Mesmerizing Margot Robbie

I, Tonya is a biopic about former figure skating star Tonya Harding, who is the first woman to successfully pull two triple Axels in a single competition and the first to complete a triple Axel in combination with a double toe loop.  But aside from her accomplishments on the ice rink, she also gained notoriety for her involvement on the 1994 attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan, resulting to a lifetime ban from participating in the sport.  The film details the tough upbringing she received from her mother (strongly played by Alison Janney), her relationship with lover Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan), the rise of her career, and the events surrounding the Nancy Kerrigan scandal.

There’s only one reason why I watched this film: Margot Robbie.  Seeing her on screen is always a pleasure.  And she definitely didn’t disappoint here.  Her portrayal of Harding is vivid and mesmerizing, oozing with redneck fierceness and her trademark charisma.

The main narrative is intertwined with mockumentary interviews of the characters involved.  And the conflicting accounts from the “he said, she said” element heavily plays out in the narrative.  There is no mess from this; rather, the different perspectives only enhance the comedic tone.  The breaking of the fourth wall even occurs in relation to this.  As a whole, the satirical delivery makes the film mostly engaging.  However, the humor doesn’t go overboard that the horrible details of the story are undermined and get lost in delivery.

Overall, I, Tonya is a good film.  However, I also find it a bit lacking.  Beyond the fantastic performances of Margot Robbie, Mckenna Grace (she played the young Tonya; she was also terrific and delightful in Gifted), and Alison Janney, nothing about this movie really struck me in a more substantially rewarding level.