Against the Ropes

Director: Charles Dutton
Starring: Meg Ryan, Omar Epps

I’m glad that I didn’t waste money to see it at the theater. It was fine to watch it on Showtime, but not in theaters. I kept waiting for something bad to happen, a twist, a something. It was predictable. I guess that the boxer Luther Shaw’s win streak was supposed to inspire awe or emotions or something. It really didn’t move me.

Jackie Kallen(this movie is inspired by her life’s story) grew up around boxers(not the dogs). She grew up and is now working as a secretary for the owner of a boxing arena in Ohio. This owner also is a manager of other professional boxers. He is a chauvinist, and Jackie is pretty fed up with him. Some stuff happens, and he offers her a boxer’s contract for $1. She takes it, just to prove that she can be a woman and still be an able manager.

The next day she wants to visit her new boxer (she took her friend along too). He lives in a seedy part of Cincinnati, and he deals drugs for a living. Her new boxer is high and tries to rob her when she arrives. A rival drug pusher comes in and starts beating all the other thugs up. Although Jackie should busy herself by running for her life, she is instead watching the fight with interest. Enter Police– the thug who was whooping everyone is hauled off to jail.

Jackie sees talent in him, so she bailed him(Luther Shaw) out. She offers him a contract; he refuses. She stalks him; he says that he’ll think about it. He thought about it, and accepts the contract(surprise!). So he begins training with a previously retired boxing training named Felix. After some bad mouthing from the young ‘un, they start to work.

Meanwhile, all the other boxing managers are mad because Jackie is a woman boxing manager(You should be feeling worried about this point. What is she going to do about this???). They don’t let her sign Luther Shaw for any fights, so she heads to New York.

He wins his first match(hey, Surprise!), and the next 14 matches(woo-hoo! This is where I start looking for a twist. After 14 wins, something is bound to go wrong.). He takes on a major guy, and wins. Jackie starts spending more time with the press then with Luther, and he gets mad. So do a lot of other people that she let down.

Pretty soon, he is able to fight against the defending Middle-Weight Champion. Only thing is, he isn’t ready and he has to fight the champ in 3 weeks. Jackie was given a bad deal because she’s a woman. Big night comes, Jackie disappoints some more people, Luther wins the fight. Yay, Luther….it’s another surprise…The End.

So, if nothing better happens to be on tv, watch it. Or read a book. Because you wouldn’t be out of the Movie Buff’s Circle is you didn’t. Even Rocky XVII (for those who forgot their Roman Numerals, it’s 17) is probably/or will be better.