Against the Ropes

A fact-based boxing movie that clearly wants to be a crowd-pleasing fable of winning against the odds, Against the Ropes is actually a punch-drunk combination of pugilistic hokum and feminist empowerment fantasy that quickly goes down for the count. Meg Ryan, trying once more to revivify her ailing career by playing a role outside her usual range, stars as Jackie Kallen, the rare female manager who proves her mettle in the all-male boxing world by taking a young, untrained inner-city amateur (Omar Epps) to championship contention, much to the consternation of a mob-connected Midwestern manager (Tony Shalhoub). Also on hand is Charles S. Dutton (who also directed, lethargically) as the crusty old trainer whom Jackie brings out of retirement to shape her charge's natural talent, and Tim Daly as a local reporter instrumental in publicizing her story, until the big boys from ESPN seduce her into dumping him for a wider audience. Apart from the gender twist, Against the Ropes is utterly cliché-ridden and predictable…except for one great moment when Kallen saves her fighter from drinking a glass of juice spiked with laxative before a big bout and explains, “It's my job to see shit coming.” Unfortunately, Ryan lacks this skill in choosing scripts. Not recommended. [Note: Available in both widescreen and full screen versions, DVD extras include the 19-minute making-of featurette “A Ringside Seat,” the nine-minute segment “Queen of the Ring: Jackie Kallen Then & Now,” and trailers. Bottom line: an unimpressive extras package for an unimpressive film.] (F. Swietek)