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Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage

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04/14/2008 Archived Entry: "‘Resurrecting the Champ’ Refreshing and Redemptive!"

‘Resurrecting the Champ’ Refreshing and Redemptive!

By Juan C. Ayllon

Resurrecting_the_Champ (97k image)


We’ve all been there at one time or another—down on our luck with the odds stacked against us. Out of the blue, an opportunity avails itself. Elated, we embrace it for all its worth.

And then the bottom drops out.

Josh Hartnett plays an underperforming but talented newspaper sportswriter, Erik Kernan, mired in work troubles, painful separation from his wife and child, and a long shadow cast by his late father, a famous radio sports journalist who abandoned his family long ago.

One evening following a boxing match he’s reporting, Kernan encounters an aged and homeless ex-pug accosted by a group of drunken thrill seekers.

Coming to his aid, Kernan soon discovers that this ex-fighter (played by Samuel Jackson) who calls himself “Champ” claims to be the huge-punching but china-chinned heavyweight contender of the 40’s and 50’s, Bob Satterfield.

Kernan initially takes pity on “Champ,” but soon realizes that this could be just the story to breathe life into his stalled career. Running with it, he becomes a media darling overnight.

And then things get very complicated.

The experience proves to be a litmus test for everything that Kernan stands for. As he struggles to sort it all out, Kernan finds unexpected help from his wife (played by Kathryn Morris) and boy (Dakota Goyo), who serve as moral compasses in helping him navigate through a series of harrowing choices.

Resurrecting the Champ is a bittersweet story of struggle, triumph, defeat, grace and redemption. Through their affiliation and ensuing trials, both Kernan and “Champ” are stripped of shadows and pretense and find a new sense of dignity as they rediscover themselves.

There’s a moment or two that are problematic. For instance, after taking in a boxing match with “Champ” and downing a few brews in the park with him afterwards, Kernan returns to his computer and in the wee hours of the night types up and submits his report which appears in the next morning’s paper. What happened to the nightly deadline that must be met in order for a story to make it to print?

That aside, Resurrecting the Champ is an altogether enjoyable, refreshing and moving piece. It takes the viewer through a few twists and turns and, unlike some movies, doesn’t leave you with that bottom just dropped out from under you feeling just as the credits roll.

There’s a payoff.

And, even though it addresses some adult issues, it’s family friendly without being patronizing or schmaltzy. Now that it’s out on DVD, I’d highly recommend it.

* * *

RESURRECTING THE CHAMP
Price: $27.98 SRP
Total Run Time: 111 Minutes
DVD Catalog #: 2249549
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Closed Captioned: Yes

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