Formula Fight Film with Two Show Stealing Performances

Rating: 7/10 (4 December 2015)

Jake Gyllenhaal Takes a Page From the Playbook of Christian Bale, Robert De Niro, and Some Other Method Actors and Transforms to a Physical Presence that Cannot Be Ignored. He is Hardly Recognizable Behind a Pummelled Face, Ripped Abs, a Lazy Tongue, and Featuring a Drooping Demeanor Befitting His Fall From Champ to Chump.
Director Fuqua Makes Entertaining Movies and Here the Attraction, Beyond the Ring Heroics, is the Comeback to Reality to Fight for His Daughter's Custody.
The Child Actress Oona Laurence, in a Captivating Performance, as the Daughter, is the Heart and Soul of the Movie and an Obvious Inspiration for What is a Riches to Rags to Redemption Story.
It's Standard for This Type of Thing and This is Fairly Standard but it's a Tried and True Formula and When it's Done With Talent and Flare it Works and This One Works Just Fine. It Evokes Adrenaline and Tears and That's its Reason for Being.
A Supporting Cast of Good Actors (Curtis Jackson notwithstanding, but thankfully He is not allowed to mumble as much here) Help Make This a Stylish, if Subdued Sports Flick with a Predictable Panache and Dual Dad-Daughter Performances that Make it Well Worth a Watch for Anyone but the Most Cynical.