A Review of ‘The Fighter’

Actor Mark Wahlberg portrays 'The Fighter' (Courtesy Teaser-Trailers,com)

Priscille and I had heard quite a bit about the new movie The Fighter which is now playing in theatres, and which was filmed on location in our hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts.

 Recent online reviews were favorable.  So were comments from some of our relatives who saw it.  That convinced us to take in the film at one of Bridgewater’s AMC Dine-In Theatres at the Bridgewater Commons Mall, on Thursday evening.

The flick depicts the story of a Lowellian who aspires to a boxing title that appears to be slipping away.   In his early boxing career, the man doesn’t train well and ends up getting mismatched in an Atlantic City bout where, at the last minute, a substitute boxer that outweighs him by 20 pounds wipes him out. 

Nevertheless, as an underdog, he manages to carry on, changes his approach, and eventually captures the World Welterweight Title in London.

This drama has credibility because it is based upon a true story.  The two boxer-brothers depicted in the film still live in Lowell, where the champ owns a boxing gym. 

This story goes well beyond the sport of boxing, because it chronicles the pain-filled path of a dysfunctional family in which the mother dominates the career of her son, while his half-brother, a failed boxer and erstwhile trainer, wastes away in a crack house and, for a time, ends up busted doing jail time.

The most compelling takeaway of this story is not simply the eventual success of the welterweight boxer after he changes handlers; undergoes rigorously disciplined training; and begins to dominate the field in his weight class:  It is his refusal to let the family matriarch continue to control his boxing regimen – a key, yet very difficult decision which, nonetheless, results in the family’s eventually positive transformation.

This movie is highly visceral, has too much usage of the f-word, several bloody boxing scenes, and some semi-nudity.  But the overall force of the script, the acting effectiveness; and, especially, the example of redemption sought for and achieved by the champ and his family, puts you right in the middle of the plot.  It is worth your time.

Parents, be advised:  This film is rated R.

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