7/10 Stars

“ITYSMF!” IYKYK

I turned on my television the other night and Google TV recommended a documentary about CT Fletcher on Tubi. Having spent more than 30 years under a barbell, and having watched plenty of CT’s YouTube videos over the years, I figured it was worth a couple of hours of my time.

CT Fletcher: My Magnificent Obsession is not so much a documentary about the larger-than-life gym personality as it is about the man behind that personality. And I think that was the right approach.

If you’ve spent much time in the strength-training world, you probably know CT Fletcher. The screaming, the profanity, the enormous arms, the seemingly endless sets of curls and his famous declaration that it’s still your motherfucking set. He’s a six-time world champion strength athlete who became an internet sensation through a combination of incredible strength and an absolutely outrageous personality.

But I’ve always understood that the personality we see on YouTube is, at least in part, what it takes to become internet famous. The mild-mannered masters athlete quietly plugging away with intelligent programming and sustainable consistency isn’t going to generate nearly as many clicks or attract the same supplement sponsorships. The guy screaming at you to command your muscles to grow? That’s entertainment.

And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that.

The documentary spends much of its time exploring Fletcher’s upbringing, his difficult relationship with his father, his personal struggles and the health problems that nearly cost him his life. I was somewhat familiar with those parts of his story, and had suspected some of the connections between his experiences and his public persona. But seeing that history presented in a more subdued, digestible format provided some welcome context.

It didn’t fundamentally change my opinion of Fletcher. It mostly reinforced what I already thought about him, while allowing me to appreciate the person behind the mythology a little more.

One thing I kept coming back to while watching was the distinction between motivation and methodology. CT Fletcher can make you want to run through a brick wall. That doesn’t necessarily mean running through a brick wall is a particularly intelligent training strategy.

Being motivated by CT doesn’t mean you have to train like CT.

There’s a lot to admire about his intensity, determination and refusal to accept limitations. But there’s also something to be said for the lifter who understands recovery, manages fatigue and wants to remain capable of training for another 30 years. You can appreciate the former while practicing the latter.

Interestingly, watching the documentary also sent me down a rabbit hole looking into Fletcher’s competitive powerlifting history. His accomplishments in the bench press and strict curl were impressive, and I discovered that some of his NASA competition years nearly overlapped with my own beginnings in the federation during the mid-1990s. That added a little personal connection I wasn’t expecting.

Ultimately, My Magnificent Obsession is a worthwhile documentary, particularly for those of us who have spent a substantial portion of our lives in the gym. I enjoyed learning more about the man behind the motivational videos, and the documentary provides a more human perspective on someone whose public identity is built around being almost superhuman.

I’m not sure it has enough broader appeal to strongly recommend it to someone who isn’t already familiar with Fletcher or invested in strength training. There’s simply more here for someone who understands the culture and appreciates the significance of his accomplishments.

But for my fellow iron brothers and sisters? It’s worth watching.

7 out of 10 stars.

And remember, no matter how many years you’ve been doing this, no matter how old you get, no matter how much the weights fight back…

IT’S STILL YOUR MOTHERFUCKING SET!