The title of the film may be "Fighting Tommy Riley", but the star is actually Tommy's coach Marty, played by the phenomenal Eddie Jones. Yes, this is a boxing movie, but it's also a movie about a personal struggle to remain professional and go beyond one's desires to do the right thing.
At the start of the film, we're introduced to the two main characters as each of them are struggling to find their place in the world. It's when the two are brought together that they find themselves improving their situations. Tommy becomes a boxer again, and begins winning. Marty finds someone to focus on, something to get himself out of bed for.
Now here's the spoiler. Marty's got a past with another boxer who he made a pass at. That boxer outed Marty, and Marty's reputation in the boxing world was shot. That's why he went off to become a teacher. Throughout this film, Marty's struggling against his desires for Tommy which culminates in an incident that reveals Marty's tortured side to Tommy, who tries to put it behind him, but is never able to until the end of the film.
Other reviewers are glossing over this key plot point of the film and saying that it never achieves anything similar to a "Rocky" or "Cinderella Man". Those reviewers are missing the point. The film isn't about Tommy Riley becoming a fighter. It's about fighting the desire for Tommy Riley, even if it means you have to force him to hate you so that he can truly achieve that which he deserves.
This is strong material, and Eddie Jones steps up to the plate and delivers without going over the top. JP Davis proved himself capable as both a writer and an actor. And the supporting actresses, Christina Chambers and Diane M. Taylor, made the most of the limited scenes and dialogue they were given.
At the start of the film, we're introduced to the two main characters as each of them are struggling to find their place in the world. It's when the two are brought together that they find themselves improving their situations. Tommy becomes a boxer again, and begins winning. Marty finds someone to focus on, something to get himself out of bed for.
Now here's the spoiler. Marty's got a past with another boxer who he made a pass at. That boxer outed Marty, and Marty's reputation in the boxing world was shot. That's why he went off to become a teacher. Throughout this film, Marty's struggling against his desires for Tommy which culminates in an incident that reveals Marty's tortured side to Tommy, who tries to put it behind him, but is never able to until the end of the film.
Other reviewers are glossing over this key plot point of the film and saying that it never achieves anything similar to a "Rocky" or "Cinderella Man". Those reviewers are missing the point. The film isn't about Tommy Riley becoming a fighter. It's about fighting the desire for Tommy Riley, even if it means you have to force him to hate you so that he can truly achieve that which he deserves.
This is strong material, and Eddie Jones steps up to the plate and delivers without going over the top. JP Davis proved himself capable as both a writer and an actor. And the supporting actresses, Christina Chambers and Diane M. Taylor, made the most of the limited scenes and dialogue they were given.
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