Review: Cinderella Man (B-)

Cinderella Man (2005)
Directed by Ron Howard
Starring Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti and Craig Bierko
MPAA: PG13
Grade: B-

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

Boxing films are a genre that I know very little about. However, I do enjoy a romantic drama from time to time and Cinderella Man is both a love story and a boxing film. The latest creation from Ron Howard is a tad schmaltzy and even a little depressing, but ultimately, Cinderella Man succeeds.

Jim Braddock was a fairly successful boxer during the days of the great depression until he was injured. He continued to fight while injured in order to keep food on the table. Fighting while injured cost him his career as his performances were substandard. A fluke dropout of a major fighter allowed Braddock to step back into the ring and he made the most of it, out of love for his family. Braddock (played by Russell Crowe) became a hero for the common man as he battled for the world championship.

The script of Cinderella Man is formulaic and the pacing of the film is much too slow. The director Ron Howard also spends way too much time attempting to show just how low Braddock has sunk before bringing this movie back around to solid ground. However, the acting of Crowe, Renee Zellwegger (as his wife) and Paul Giamatti (as his manager) saves this film and keeps it interesting.

Cinderella Man is a fairly interesting Hollywood biopic that is slow and depressing at times, but ultimately it is still worth checking out. Ron Howard has done better work (I like Cocoon) and the actors Crowe, Zellwegger and Giamatti have also done better work as well. But, if you like boxing films, or love stories, Cinderella Man might be worth your while.