JACKIE ISN'T FIGHTING FOR GLORY. SHE'S FIGHTING FOR RESPECT.INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY, JACKIE IS A SASSY, BRASSY BOXINGMANAGER-IN-THE-MAKING DETERMINED TO CHANGE 'LETHAL' LUTHER SHAW FROM A MERE STREET PUNK INTO A WORLD CLA... more »SS PRIZEFIGHTER.« less
Tracy B. (MooVeeFreak) from CARTHAGE, TN Reviewed on 3/24/2011...
I thought this was a good flick. Had comedy & drama & boxing of course!
I love Meg Ryan it it was fun to see her in something besides the normal girlie chick flicks. I liked how she had a mind of her own, was opinionated & knew what she wanted. Her accent drove me crazy & some of her clothing ideas were biazzare.
Omar Epps was hot in this movie & I liked the relationship that was formed between him & Ryan. I think there could have been more fighting besides the brief second clips & the last fight scene.
Still worth the watch for the mood I was in! Just shows girls can be better than guys!!
Movie Reviews
Great story, abrupt ending
K. Stuckey | Port Huron, MI USA | 07/24/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This movie is a great story of how to fight for what you believe in and that success does not come easy. Based loosely on the true story of Jackie Callen, Meg Ryan is wonderful as a woman trying to break into the boys-club of boxing management. She grew up loving boxing and knows the sport inside out. After being mistreated and underappreciated by the men she works for in sports, she goes out on her own with a young thug named Luther (the fine Omar Epps) whom she thinks has potential. With help from some old friends of her late uncle (himself a pro boxer), she turns Luther into a winner. Along the way, the attention goes to Jackie's head and she starts to alienate those around her, including her fighter who then wants out of his contract with her.
Charles S. Dutton directed and plays trainer Felix, Tony Shahloub is Jackie's main adversary and Tim Daly is a local TV reporter and her romantic interest. It is a great movie, but I think the ending is kind of abrupt, Luther wins the title fight everyone thought he wasn't ready for, then he and Jackie hug and make up...did he get out of his contract? Did she hook up with the reporter? Meanwhile, the real Jackie Callen was married with two sons when she started in the business and was from Detroit, not Cleveland. The screenwriter took quite a bit of poetic license. It is still a good movie though, a great mix of comedy and drama."
RIveting and inspirational
K. Corn | Indianapolis,, IN United States | 07/15/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Grab this DVD as quickly as you can. Here's why:
1. It tells the true story of a woman, Jackie Kallen, who broke into the male-dominated boxing world. Very inspirational and Meg Ryan's performance is strong and solid.
2. There's an interview with the real Jackie Kallen and a behind the scenes look at how and why the movie was made.
3. The movie is gripping to watch and Kallen isn't portrayed as a stereotype or saint but as a very real (and flawed) person. In short, this isn't a "fluffy" movie but one that tries to be relatively honest (by Hollywood standards).
Very riveting, great fight scenes, strong perfromances - what more is there to say?"
Loved this movie!
O. Brown | Twopeas, WA | 10/06/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"****
I really loved this movie. I read the other reviews (most of which were negative) and strongly disagree with them. I think Meg Ryan was wonderful, likewise Charles Dutton and the other actors. I am not a boxing fan. That doesn't matter. This movie is good entertainment. It is based on a true story of a female boxing manager who lets fame go to her head, makes some bad choices, and eventually...discovers what really matters. Men will love it (for the fight scenes, Meg Ryan, and the competition) and women will love it because it shows what women are capable of---anything---even in a man's world). Rent it or buy it---you won't be sorry. Great date movie.
****"
An interesting AND Exciting Movie, no matter what the negati
Jerry Rodrigues | Santa Clara, California | 09/19/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"9-18-2006
I just borrowed this movie from my city library. It seems sometimes that some people have an urge to be negative, maybe because THEY can't act! THEY can't Write! THEY can't Direct!
Meg Ryan as usual, was cute, though more mature, AND SEXY, as usual.
Omar Epps was excellent, & it was enjoyable how he eventually showed he had a heart, even though he was a former Drug Dealer whom Jackie Kallen turned around & really cared to help him show his future Championship attitude in many ways.
Charles S. Dutton, I believe is an excellent actor & did a fine job in Directing this film... Those who complained are the people who can NOT doing anything, except complain.
I was unhappy about Jackie's success going to her own head, as if SHE were the ONLY reason for "Their" Success, but quite happy when she finally saw her jerky-self-centeredness that had become her & she changed & was not afraid to apologize for her stupid selfishness.
I cheered, along with the boxing crowd for Luther, for Jackie, for Felix AND for Jackie's office friend & her TV Friend whom she had also screwed-over, but apologized to.
It does leave you with a Good feeling, whether you are a man, or a woman... You know, women should be loved for their beauty AND their Brains, as well as those who have the
"Stick-to-itiveness" qualities that Jackie, Luther AND Felix had.
I cheer them, and ALL people like them, clapping as if I were with them at the fight. AND... a HUGE BOOING of those Negative Reviewers who can do nothing else, but be negative!!!
I MUST also congratulate Tony Shalub whom has really grown into an Excellent,Quite Versatile Actor... Good job Tony!!!
I immediately contacted Amazon to look for this movie I WILL Happily add this to my 500-600 Video library collection!!!