Everything's so expectable

Rating: 6/10 (26 April 2005)

It's a nice piece, yes. But too many clichés for what is supposed a first-class movie.
***SPOILERS COME*** When Mr. Trainer (Eastwood) said he would never train her, and she insisted so much, did anyone in the audience still have any doubts about him becoming her coach, and making her a champion?
And, as soon as the old man in charge of the gym appeared on the screen, you didn't need to be a genius to guess the role he would play in the story. I've seen dozens of movies with such a guy: a poor, lonely man that really understand & cares... (Not to mention the fight of a decent adult that beats bad boys, one of the favorite emotional resources of popcorn movies)
The girl's family: so grotesque and ambitious, what an exaggeration!
The turning point, in the last fight: that was a real surprise but, again, too exaggerated for people to take it really seriously.
***SPOILERS END***
So, it's above average, but far below really great films.