Against the Ropes (2004)

12% of critics liked it
(131 reviews)
34% of users liked it
(9,728 ratings)

Charles S. Dutton's feature-length directorial debut Against the Ropes is based on the real-life story of Jackie Kallen, a Jewish woman from Detroit who became a successful boxing manager. Played by Meg Ryan, Kallen works her way up in the world of boxing by believing in the fighting skills of… More Charles S. Dutton's feature-length directorial debut Against the Ropes is based on the real-life story of Jackie Kallen, a Jewish woman from Detroit who became a successful boxing manager. Played by Meg Ryan, Kallen works her way up in the world of boxing by believing in the fighting skills of Luther Shaw (Omar Epps). Director Dutton appears as veteran trainer Felix Reynolds, whom Kallen encourages to come out of retirement. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Charles S. Dutton
Written By: Cheryl Edwards
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Feb 20, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Jul 13, 2004
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
A miscast Ryan struggles with a Detroit accent and a script that goes nowhere.
Laura Sinagra, Village Voice
What could have been a Working Girl hoot gets mired in redundant assertions of Kallen's feistiness.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
Somewhere along the way, I found myself enjoying Against the Ropes, not in spite of my better judgment, but because something in the movie defies the whole notion of better judgment altogether.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
So anemic you should probably order iron supplements with your popcorn, its plot so predictable it makes falling dominoes seem like a white-knuckle thrill ride.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
A boilerplate melodrama whose good guys and bad guys are so baldly drawn they could have been conceived by Friz Freleng.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
Bathos wrapped in a formulaic screenplay bolstered with cliches, not only about the boxing world but about tough women and the men who hate them.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Uninspired tale feels like a made-for-TV movie.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
An inoffensively average, formulaic entertainment with a marketing-problematic point of view.
Kam Williams, Princeton Town Topics
It's hard to expect anyone to infuse much passion into a "by-the-numbers" boxing movie which telegraphs every punch.
Peter T. Chattaway, Christianity Today
Against the Ropes may not deliver a knock-out, but it does land some pretty good blows.
Forrest Hartman, Reno Gazette-Journal
It's one thing to make a predictable Hollywood movie. It's another thing to make a predictable Hollywood movie based on a fascinating life.
, Empire Magazine
What could have been a gripping tale becomes hammy and overdone.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
Meg Ryan is busily torpedoing any respect she might have accrued

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Film C

quite a hated movie! although it isnt original its not a terrible movie and is quite a good movie, it kept me entertained and interested in the movie and i thought it was pretty interesting. I enjoyed the story and its based on real events as well and i enjoyed the acting and… More
quite a hated movie! although it isnt original its not a terrible movie and is quite a good movie, it kept me entertained and interested in the movie and i thought it was pretty interesting. I enjoyed the story and its based on real events as well and i enjoyed the acting and writting of the script i think the movie showed how men are predujice and sexist when a women does a supposed male job that no women should do, and i think it projected that across brilliantly i really enjoyed the movie. Meg Ryan is brilliant and so is omar epps i love tony shalhoub in this hes brilliant as the horrible trainer businessman. Meg Ryan pays a women whose bossed about and finally gets the chances to take on a fighter for boxing but she takes a risk with an unsuspeciting surprise that turns to be a huge bonus, but will the fame get to her and will she continue to have the fighters best interests at heart? Funny in places and keeps you entertained and a real good emotional journey through the life of a women who gets everything good movie!
Arash X

Hilarious
Dean M

Good bit comedy, but filled drama in fight film with my one of favourite beautiful actresses, Meg Ryan. Interesting inspired tale by the life of Jackie Kallen, the most successful female manager in the world of boxing.
Sunil J

Interesting. Not original but it was okay.