Probably not Meg Ryan’s most memorable work. Based on the story of Jackie Kallen, the first female boxing manager, Against the Ropes is a so-so film that I don’t think had much potential anyway. It’s not quite a boxing/action movie, not quite a comedy, no romance, a small bit of drama…it is really missing a lot of things. There are funny moments, but really nothing more than a giggle. As far as the action goes, not much surprise and even less suspense.
As usual, Meg Ryan gave a great performance. She was positively gorgeous in every scene, even though the midwestern accent was a bit of a turnoff. She did the accent very well; it’s just a personal preference of mine. She was believable and fit the part very well; it’s just that there wasn’t much to her. Jackie Kallen’s one goal is to be a recognized and respected boxing manager, and she gets that in the middle of the movie. Everything else after that was a little boring and full of holes. Instead of gaining the respect of her peers, she ends up being patronized in the final scene. If everyone set out on this film to show how women should be treated as equals…I’m not so sure they accomplished that. Her relationship with her prizefighter Luther Shaw (Omar Epps) turns Jackie into a bit o an egomaniac – which turns out to be her eventual downfall.
Omar Epps was solid, but again…there wasn’t much to his character. A former drug dealing ass-kicker, Luther Shaw was looking for many of the same things Jackie was. They both craved to get out of the world they were in. Mutual desires led them to help each other. However, Luther eventually ends up slipping out of Jackie’s contract and fighting for the “ bad guy” Sam Larocca (Tony Shalhoub) – who by the way plays a great sleaze bag. So, all of a sudden Luther isn’t fighting for Jackie anymore…so what’s the point? Another thing that really bothered me about Luther was that he was apparently giving up on the fight of his life, and in the VERY NEXT shot he walks in to the arena ready to take him on – it came a little too soon to swallow. Besides all of that, Omar was in great physical shape, and I’m sure he would tune me if he read this.
As I mentioned before, the supporting cast, which includes Tony Shalhoub, is very entertaining. Tony’s character, Sam Larocca, is the epitome of all that is greedy and wrong in the Cleveland boxing world. Playing former famed trainer Felix Reynolds is the extremely talented Charles S. Dutton. He did a great job of rounding out the cast, and I wouldn’t put it past ...
