[yasr_overall_rating]
A drama inspired by the life of heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner.
As a lifelong fan of Rocky Balboa, it was amazing to see how this film molded the character of Chuck Wepner (Liev Schreiber) who was the original inspiration. The film, based on a true story, focuses on Chuck, a Bayonne, New Jersey liquor salesman who made ends meet by taking on fights that he never truly expected to win. Jokingly referred to as the Bayonne Bleeder due to the bloodshed during his fights, he was never really taken seriously until George Foreman lost a title bout to Muhammad Ali in the 1974 Rumble In The Jungle and in 1975 Chuck was asked to step up to the ring. Chuck’s entire life was impacted as he proved to his agent and all the naysayers, that he could go a full fifteen rounds. Although Chuck lost by a technical knockout, he gained the respect of the local community and became a star in his own right.
The real meat of the film begins when Chuck’s wife Phyliss (Elisabeth Moss) who has supported him through thick and thin, finds that Chuck’s heightened drinking and womanizing are detrimental to their marriage and the raising of their daughter. While she continues to try to lead him on the straight and narrow, he repeatedly begs for forgiveness, yet still tries to reap the enhanced benefits of being a local hero who has finally earned the respect of the community he was raised in. When Chuck finds out through a television show that his entire life parallels with Rocky Balboa, he is intrigued and uses all his resources to get in touch with the producer, Sylvester Stallone, in order to capitalize on the benefits of a lifestyle he has already lived. A seemingly natural loser, Chuck fights tooth and nail to land a huge part in the movie and when he gets to the audition, he is so stoned that he loses all chances of making his dreams come true. He is so distraught that he continues on a downward spiral losing his family and ending up in jail due to a drug deal gone bad. In the end, Chuck is saved by the brother (Michael Rapaport) he was always at odds with and Linda (Naomi Watts), the girl who stood in the wings waiting for him to realize that he always had a special place in her heart but was never in a status to fully embrace it.
Director Philippe Falardeau does an outstanding job telling the story of Rocky Balboa through the bloodshed of Chuck Wepner. The good, the bad, and the ugly collectively form a true-to-life character who embraced the true heart of a champion without ever fully realizing it. Any true follower of boxing or passionate sports enthusiast would be remiss not to embrace this well-told story of a champ who was continuously strengthened by his ability to beat the odds both in and out of the ring.
In theaters Friday, May 12th
