Against the Ropes

2004 "She gave the boxing world the one-two punch they never saw coming."
5.3| 1h46m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 20 February 2004 Released
Producted By: Paramount
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

A fictional story inspired by North America's most famous female boxing promoter, Jackie Kallen. Her struggle to survive and succeed in a male dominated sport.

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Reviews

Karry Best movie of this year hands down!
GazerRise Fantastic!
FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
SnoopyStyle Jackie Kallen (Meg Ryan) grew up in the boxing gym. She's working for fight promoter Irving Abel (Joe Cortese) in Cleveland. Manager Sam LaRocca (Tony Shalhoub) has a big title fight. The sexist Sam ridicules Jackie. After the fight, he dismisses her and sells her the contract of the loser. She and secretary Renee (Kerry Washington) visit her fighter only to find him doing drugs and getting beaten by criminal Luther Shaw (Omar Epps). Jackie signs Luther to a contract and recruits trainer Felix Reynolds (Charles S. Dutton). Gavin Reese (Tim Daly) is a sports TV personality.This is a fictionalization of the real female pioneer, boxing manager Jackie Kallen. The writing is filled with clichés and old boxing formulas. I'm not really put off by it but there isn't anything new in this. I do like Meg Ryan and Omar Epps' connection. They are able to fill the standard characters with solid emotions. Otherwise, I would have liked to see more of the real story in this real person's journey.
elshikh4 I love (Meg Ryan), but not some of her works lately. Here, the problem is in the script. It's solid one but totally not a new one or trying to be (At least a star like Ryan must've known better !). The thing is that there was an intention for making a movie about North America's most famous female boxing promoter (Jackie Kallen). But with non factual story. So when they select of all the themes a fictional one that's close to (A Star Is Born)'s formula, then I must feel so bored before getting to veto powerfully ! I hate to say it but the whole thing seemed predictable. I waited for different details for the characters or the events to just find different outfits for (Ryan) ! The director (Charles S. Dutton) handled it fine but had to make video clips at places since the script gave him nothing unique to do, just a middling material (The last 10 minutes was the only too fine sequence). The music was good but at a few moments. The sensitivity itself wasn't well made inasmuch as abbreviated, not to mention weak points; for instance the separation between the 2 leads was done so strangely and for trivial matters, therefore moments like seeing (Ryan)'s character at the arena in the last match, with greeting her respectfully from the honest report's character, was overdone, too emotional in the wrong place, and looked like a ghost for counterpart moment in (The Natural - 1984)! And I thought that Meg's apology and encouragement speech after could've been something less blabber or totally wordless; meaning more cinematic, less weak (for instance she raises a board with Go and Win written on it, then Epps heeds her surprising while she looks at him crying regretfully), or anything else. (Tony Shalhoub) did it good, but I felt that he wasn't scary enough in the first place. (Omar Epps) is so aggrieved, the movie dealt with him the lousy way Jackie did at one point (making all the show about her only !). (Kerry Washington) is adorable and so hot, but seriously how to talk about her since originally there isn't saturated or satisfactory anyone or anything in this script!. It looked like "the movie of the week" stuff while it's a Hollywood movie with Big star. To be fair, it's not bad at all, but it surely lacked what could make it distinct, original, and sentimental. Still the best about it is (Ryan)'s too many flashy colorful clothes, and her sexy present all the time, while your assured feelings that her eyebrows and her lips look weird, her voice suddenly changed into husky, her age became older than her characters, and that there is something not right about this phase of her career. (Meg) I still love you, please choose better next times. I can't finish it without one sly remark : on the top of its soundtrack you'd find "Out of Touch".. As a description for the movie itself.. I couldn't agree more !
MLDinTN It would seem if this story was based on a real lady, then it would have been more interesting and not have everything fall step by step. Jackie loves boxing, works as a secretary at a boxing venue, gets a chance to manage on a bet, finds a young fighter who has potential, becomes successful, gets an ego, falls from grace, but wins the last fight in a miraculous manner. Here, the part I hated the most was Jackie determines that Luther is championship material after he beats up two crackheads. I didn't know finding a champion boxer was so easy.Ryan over acts and uses this bad accent like she's talking through her nose. I also didn't think the boxing fights were shot too well. All of the characters are cardboard cut outs, especially the rival promoter. And the standing ovation at the end for Jackie was so over-the-top. Could it get any more sappy? FINAL VERDICT: Follows a step by step story line for movies like this. There's no emotional hook and it's stereo typical as stereo typical gets.
Colette Corr Against the Ropes is very loosely based on the life of Jackie Cullen, boxing's most successful female promoter ever.Meg Ryan is Jackie, who's struggling as PA to a boxing venue owner, despite her family connections and knowledge of the sport. When she gains a dud boxer after a wager, Jackie encounters the talented Luther (Omar Epps) and enlists retired trainer Felix (Charles S Dutton, who also directed) to get Luther match-ready.Although Meg Ryan does well enough with Cheryl Edwards' hackneyed script, the real Jackie Cullen seems to be a far more interesting character. Not enough attention is paid to developing the other characters either, though Jackie and her protégé Owen build a good rapport. There's also a gaping plot inconsistency: why would Jackie go back to temping in administration when she owns her own boxing studio? However, the fight scenes are well choreographed and the highlight of the film. **/*****