Fighting Directed by: Dito Montiel Cast: Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Zulay Henao Running Time: (approx time, such as 1 hr 35 mins, 2 hrs 15 mins) Rating: PG-13 Release Date: April 24, 2009

Plot: A young man (Tatum), with the guidance of a street-scheme organizer (Howard), makes his way into the underground sport of all-out fighting.

Who’s It For? With its story about Fighting against the odds, this movie speaks mostly for teens - whether they are curious to see Tatum without his shirt off (again), or their interest is in watching him take part in human cock fights.

Expectations: Co-writer/director Dito Montiel made it onto the "indie" film scene with his personal debut A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints. This film, mostly from the trailer, looked like a departure away from Saints' gritty realism of NYC towards the slightly cleaner Hollywood version of it.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors:

Channing Tatum as Shawn MacArthur: It's true that Tatum can act, even if his characters can be comfortable rehashes of themselves. But he does play the social clumsy, ruffian pretty boy admirably. As for this character, we don't entirely cheer for him too much, nor does he motivate us like people fighting for something usually do. Maybe because we don't know too much about him, or because he doesn't seem to have that much drive in the first place. 
Score: 7

Terrence Howard as Harvey: Not one of Howard's more memorable roles, despite his odd vocal mannerism that comes from his attempts to appear timid. Harvey is one of those mentors that becomes an example to his "student" of what not to do, and is always carrying some form of pity that isn't complimented by our emotional investment in him. 
Score: 5

Zulay Henao as Zulay: Awkwardly placed in the middle of Fighting is a love subplot that feels a bit obligatory and distracting to the potential ugliness of the story. Zulay's character is the obvious anchor for this. Although likable, her presence seems counteractive - as if it were sending the film in a wrong, (cheesier) direction. Score: 4

Talking: Considering the mouth that Saints had, it's a wonder whether this film was ever Fighting for a vulgar R-rating. However, there doesn't seem to be much evidence of this in the actual film. Just lots of Montiel-brand yelling, with New Yorkers solving their problems by raising this voices. Score: 6

Sights: Montiel likes to take us to streets and corners that must be dear to his heart. Once again, he has offered a great personal tour of New York City. Score: 7

Sounds: The soundtrack chooses a couple of songs that have since been sampled by Kanye West - which might explain their presence. Fighting has a very solid choice of hip-hop songs that pulse with urban glory throughout. But the energy whimpers when corny and indifferent guitars accompany the movie's "romantic" moments. Score: 6

PLOT SPOILERS

Best Scene: Tough to call. The film doesn't have any scene, dramatic of violent, that's particularly a KO.

Ending: Even the ending brawl doesn't feel as climactic as it should be, despite it's build up from the halfway point of the Fighting.

Questions: Has Montiel always wanted to make Hollywood movies or was I right in assuming he was a sort of "indie" director? 



Rewatchability: Maybe in a few years.

OVERALL

As bland as the film lets itself be, it never loses its city grime. The actual fighting seems to be barely choreographed - it is rightly legitimate to the fist-flying chaos that is an actual scuffle between two dudes thirsty for blood and money. Montiel makes the same wise decision when showing each choke hold as when he shows beloved corners of New York City - even though he throws us into the mix with more passion for his location than his action.

Montiel continues to show us his beloved stomping grounds, but does so with a simple PG-13 testosterone fest that needs more scars and bruises than it does elbow pads and mouth guards.

Final Score: 5/10