“Against the Ropes” (Paramount Pictures)
Meg Ryan continues with her move away from romantic comedy roles in her new film “Against the Ropes.” In this movie she plays a sexy boxing manager/promoter based on the life of real life boxing promoter Jackie Kallen. The role and the movie are okay but not outstanding, though Meg makes a valiant effort to make it all special.
Jackie Kallen (Ryan) is a woman who is not taken seriously by her boss or others in the boxing world of Detroit. It may be the sexy way she dresses or it might just be the fact that she is a woman. For whatever reason no one wants to listen to her ideas about how boxing can be better and more successful.
One day she gets into a disagreement with a boxing tycoon named Larocca (Tony Shalhoub). To shut her up he offers her a boxer for the price of one dollar. She takes him up on his offer and begins to manage the career of Luther Shaw (Omar Epps). She brings in retired trainer Felix Reynolds (Charles S Dutton) to work on her team.
As Jackie begins to find success, her ego inflates. She and Luther start out as veritable partners in his career but soon her personal fame is overshadowing his. That is how she wants it for she loves basking in the spotlight. But there is no room for two stars on this team and the conflict soon breaks up the relationship.
Ryan looks great and does a solid job of acting while bringing Jackie Kallen to life. Still the film dreams of being a “Rocky-ette” story but the writing never lets it get that far. The characters are thinly defined and the story feels contrived. It may all be based on truth but it doesn’t have the ring of truth to it.
Epps has some good moments as Luther and he certainly fits the physical qualifications of the role. He manages to convince the audience there is something more than manager/fighter in Luther’s relationship with Kallen and that does give the film some spark.
Dutton, who also directed the film, is a skilled actor and gives strong support as Reynolds. Shalhoub is slick and menacing as Larocca, while Tim Daly is wasted as a sports journalist. Kerry Washington is a bright spot as Jackie’s friend Renee’.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and boxing violence.
There is enjoyment to be found in “Against the Ropes” but not as much as there should be. Meg Ryan has boxed herself in as America’s sweetheart and this role is not in that arena. Getting audiences willing to accept her as a brassy, sassy boxing promoter takes work. She almost succeeds in “Against the Ropes” but not quite. There is a modicum of regret on the part of the audience that Tom Hanks is still waiting sleepless in Seattle and doesn’t appear here.
I scored “Against the Ropes” a down for the count 6 out of 10.
