I had honestly no idea this movie existed until it was brought up on a Facebook post which honored the passing of the great Lou Gossett Jr who sadly left us earlier this year in March at age 87.
I loved Gossett especially in Roots and certainly in An Officer and a Gentleman but to me he never really seemed to find any truly exceptional movies worthy of his talent after his big Oscar win for the latter.
Well this was free on Tubi and I think this is an overall excellent addition to his filmography. James Woods, Heather Graham Oliver Platt and Bruce Dern also give fine performances.
I don't know why this movie isn't more well known. It's kinda like The Sting meets Rocky. This was 1992 so perhaps people were tired at that point of five Rocky movies and didn't want to invest in more boxing flicks because this did ok with critics but was a huge box office flop.
It is predictable and has cliches but there are also a couple surprises along the way and all around it's the strength of the cast that makes this an above average flick.
Michael Ritchie does a very competent job directing as he did with The Candidate Bad News Bears and the first Fletch film.
Also the pacing is more than adequate that despite some flaws I was never bored for a second which certainly helped.
I would say pacing and the performances especially of Gossett and Dern is what made this a more than adequate movie for me.
It's no Sting, Rocky, Raging Bull or Officer and a Gentleman but it's a well acted sports dramedy that's imperfect but I still think very well worth seeing and among Gossett's best work for sure though the whole cast is good.
Give this a stream. Despite its imperfections I would also say it's sorely underrated and worthy of more praise. I'm surprised it doesn't have a cult following because I think it could be a great cult film if more people get a chance to see it. So here's your chance. Has flaws but never boring for a second and totally worth an hour and a half.
I loved Gossett especially in Roots and certainly in An Officer and a Gentleman but to me he never really seemed to find any truly exceptional movies worthy of his talent after his big Oscar win for the latter.
Well this was free on Tubi and I think this is an overall excellent addition to his filmography. James Woods, Heather Graham Oliver Platt and Bruce Dern also give fine performances.
I don't know why this movie isn't more well known. It's kinda like The Sting meets Rocky. This was 1992 so perhaps people were tired at that point of five Rocky movies and didn't want to invest in more boxing flicks because this did ok with critics but was a huge box office flop.
It is predictable and has cliches but there are also a couple surprises along the way and all around it's the strength of the cast that makes this an above average flick.
Michael Ritchie does a very competent job directing as he did with The Candidate Bad News Bears and the first Fletch film.
Also the pacing is more than adequate that despite some flaws I was never bored for a second which certainly helped.
I would say pacing and the performances especially of Gossett and Dern is what made this a more than adequate movie for me.
It's no Sting, Rocky, Raging Bull or Officer and a Gentleman but it's a well acted sports dramedy that's imperfect but I still think very well worth seeing and among Gossett's best work for sure though the whole cast is good.
Give this a stream. Despite its imperfections I would also say it's sorely underrated and worthy of more praise. I'm surprised it doesn't have a cult following because I think it could be a great cult film if more people get a chance to see it. So here's your chance. Has flaws but never boring for a second and totally worth an hour and a half.
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