Devolves into Melodrama

Rating: 5/10 (28 February 2005)

**Spoiler Warning** This was a nicely paced, intimate drama until the final boxing match, when it abruptly crash-lands into the realm of pure melodrama. When a character-driven story has to go to such lengths to generate an emotional reaction in the audience, that emotion is unearned. A more interesting denouement of this simple (but adequate) plot would have been to see what became of the main characters after Maggie's fantastic success as a boxer. As it is, we're in hack territory: What should we do now? "I've got it, drop an anvil on her head, and the handkerchiefs will be coming out faster than you can say Academy Award!" 5/10 for the acting, warm characters, and gentle pacing.