All right, back to the action. Said "action" follows all the standard tropes for this sort of movie - they play off the idea of not trusting your manager, facing down bigger and meaner opponents, and wondering what the other bettors have in mind.
That is all well and good, but there needs to be a bit more of a personal stake in the fights. As if taken right from a handbook on screenwriting, we get the introduction of Shawn's shady past, which is told through the appearance of a fellow fighter whom Shawn knows and who has a secret grudge against our hero. No, I won't give it away here, but it is probably what you are thinking.
As stories go, there is nothing particularly special, fresh, or new to be found here. There is really not that strong to hold onto. Everything about the film is just really mediocre. This mediocrity extends to the performances, including those from leads Tatum and Howard. The best things about the film are the semi-realistic approach to the romantic subplot and the philosophical bent given to Howard's character.
Bottomline. For a film saddled with the unfortunate title of Fighting, there was not nearly enough of it and what there was, was not terribly skilled. It is generally a rather weak film that will fade, disappear, and be forgotten in rather short order.
Not Recommended.
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