Film Reviews

Against the Ropes

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Charles S. Dutton
• Details: US / 111 mins / (12PG).

If nothing else, you have to admire the sheer audacity of the producers in giving Meg Ryan the leading role as a sassy boxing promoter with the sort of dress sense that wouldn't look out of place in a drag club. Indeed, it's akin to casting Keanu Reeves as someone in possession of a brain.
In this largely fictionalised story, which was inspired by real events, Ryan plays Jackie Kallen. Opening with a cornier than thou prologue in which we learn how a young Kallen grew to love boxing, the film switches to the present where the Erin Brockovich-like Kallen works for the sexist owner of the Cleveland Coliseum, Irving Abel (Joe Cortese). Of course, the only reason she puts up with all of his nonsense is simply to stay close to the fight game. After a row with local promoter Sam LaRocca (Tony Shalhoub, having a good time), Kallen is offered the chance to take on a fighter. While her original pugilist doesn't work out, she stumbles across Luther (Omar Epps), a raw talent who has - oh yes! - got a bad attitude. Before you can say 'lets get the old trainer out of retirement', Kallen convinces crusty old Felix (Dutton) to get out of retirement to put some shape on the kid.
A film which never fails to miss an opportunity to ram its second hand emotions and overstated points home, Against the Ropes is a puny hackneyed attempt at a feminist boxing movie. More interested in giving a glossy sheen to the characters lives, the film trades off so many cliches and formulaic plotting that it never becomes anything more than a tired inspirational promo, not brave enough to get in anything that could be confused with depth. And don't even get me started on Meg Ryan's performance.

Review by Garreth Murphy