Down for the count

Fighting
Review by Nathan Weinbender

“Fighting.” Some would say it’s too plain a title, but, considering how simple-minded and conventional this movie is, I can’t think of a better one. It follows the same basic formula that all films of this ilk are seemingly required to: Our hero is a tough, brooding, ruggedly handsome, down-on-his-luck kid who rises to a certain challenge and finds glory in (insert name of sport here). In this case, the sport in question is—you guessed it—fighting.

Shawn MacArthur, played by Channing Tatum, makes a living hawking phony merchandise outside Radio City Music Hall, and, as the film opens, he has a large chunk of cash stolen. He discovers the thief is in cohorts with an expert scammer named Harvey (Terrence Howard, who acts like he’d rather be elsewhere), who recognizes Shawn’s resiliency and street smarts and talks him into participating in the underground fighting circuit.

The movie supplies us with several plot elements that will no doubt seem familiar. We have the Pretty Girl, here a single mother played by Zulay Henao. The Pretty Girl is, of course, obligated to fall in love with our hero only to discover he has a Dark Secret—Shawn is plagued by his torrid relationship with his father. And then we have the Arch Enemy—a former friend of Shawn’s who, naturally, he must fight in the end.

I have nothing against formula per se—“The Wrestler” and “Slumdog Millionaire,” two of my favorite films from last year, relied quite heavily on convention, but were elevated by a unique style, intelligence and intriguing performances. “Fighting,” on the other hand, doesn’t even attempt to invigorate its tired material; it all seems phoned in, going through the motions quite deliberately. It operates primarily on two different levels: predictable and boring.

The only parts of the film that work are the fight sequences, which are the reason most people will go see it. They have a realism and an immediacy that the majority of the picture sufficiently lacks—there is a real pain and danger there, and they hold your attention while the rest of the movie evaporates around them.

Directed by Dito Montiel. Written by Robert Munic and Montiel. Starring Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Zulay Henao, Luis Guzmán, Anthony DeSando and Brian White. PG-13; 105m.