Resurrecting The Champ

Resurrecting The Champ is rated PG-13: for some violence and brief language.

Erik Kernan (Josh Hartnett) isn't down for the count, but he's starting to tire in the ring of newspaper journalism. Covering the sports beat at the fictional Denver Times, his writing is wearying his editor, Metz (Alan Alda), who waits patiently for the young man to land a great story. To make matters worse, Erik lives in the shadow of his deceased father, a legendary sports reporter. His overall lack of confidence is also the wedge separating him and his wife Joyce (Kathryn Morris), another employee at the paper, and a source of heartbreak for his greatest fan -- his young son Teddy (Dakota Goyo).

After covering a boxing match one evening, Erik happens across a group of kids roughing up a homeless man. When the thugs proudly proclaim they've beat The Champ, Erik's curiosity is aroused. Approaching the bedraggled bum, he asks him about the moniker, and to his amazement realizes the drunk is a former legendary fighter.

Battling Bob Satterfield (Samuel L. Jackson), a contender whose "glass jaw" never allowed him to quite grasp the big championship title, has certainly seen better days. Still, most of the sports community assumes Satterfield died years ago, which means Erik has just discovered a powerful story lying in a back alley. Hoping this opportunity is the professional punch he so desperately needs, the journalist visits Satterfield again the next day and begins a relationship with the man. Typically this consists of buying the down-and-outer a few cases of beer to loosen up his conversational abilities. Dozens of bottles and late nights later, Erik has captured the life of the lost pugilist. And when he puts it into print, it takes the front cover of the paper's weekend magazine and opens Erik's career to entirely new directions.

Those who aren't fans of boxing will be happy to know this isn't a movie about the sport. Yes, there are a few minutes of ring time on screen -- with some associated sports violence -- but the script is far more about relationships between fathers and sons, and the lengths a dad will go to secure those bonds. With strong messages of devotion to marriage, making difficult ethical decisions, and knowing how to forgive, this film has tremendous potential and relevance to both teen and adult audiences.

Family viewers will need to weigh in these great messages against some content concerns that may be too intense for young viewers, such as the aforementioned boxing violence (some blood is shown) and bothersome scenes of Satterfield being beaten up by kids having "fun." Language includes frequent mild and moderate profanities, terms of Christian deity, and a single use of a sexual expletive. However, sexual content in this film provides yet another positive message with Eric deciding to put his struggling marriage first when given opportunities to have sexual relations with other women.

Based on a true incident, Resurrecting the Champ offers a great story about what it means to be a father and the price a dad may pay for wanting to be a hero in his child's eyes.

Studio: Yari Film Group.

Violence and language are the two major factors to consider in determining if this film is suitable for your teens and older children. A boxing match is depicted and a man being punched is shown with blood spurting from his mouth. On two other occasions, youth rough up a homeless man because they know him to be a former boxer—once a couple of them hold the man down while another takes punches at him. There are no consequences displayed for their violent actions. Mild and moderate profanities (typically scatological terms) are used frequently throughout the film. A sexual expletive is also heard one time (in a non-sexual context). Alcohol is consumed in many scenes, with a character buying another man booze in return for having him tell him his life story. In one scene, the protagonist drinks heavily to deal with difficulties in his life. Cigarette and cigar smoking is portrayed. A brief shot shows a woman wearing a bikini. A negative remark is made about French Canadians.

Do you think it was a good idea for Erik to buy booze for the obviously alcoholic man? Do his actions indicate any concerned for the Satterfield ‘s welfare, or do you think he is simply using him to get his story? Do Erik’s actions and/or motivations change as he gets to know the homeless character?

What do you think accounts for Erik’s error in judgment? Was it avoidable? Was he deliberately careless? Do you think it will always be possible to avoid similar mistakes in your life? How can you best correct problems that occur due to your own shortcomings?

Stories of other boxing champions hoping to regain their titles can be seen in Rocky Balboa and Cinderella Man. Another movie that recounts the lengths a father will go for his son is The Pursuit of Happyness.

DVD Release Date: 8 April 2008

The Resurrecting The Champ enters the DVD ring in widescreen (2.35:1 aspect ratio) format with a making-of featurette, as well as interviews with cast and crew (Josh Hartnett, Samuel L. Jackson, Kathryn Morris, Alan Alda, director Rod Lurie and boxing/stunt coordinator Eric Bryson). Audio tracks are available in English 5.1 Dolby Surround, with subtitles in English and Spanish.