"Girlfight" is a boxing movie that successfully rises above the trappings of its formula to tell what feels like a real, human love story that is even unexpectedly touching.
On paper, its plot structure has nothing to surprise you: a surly girl from the inner city is often in trouble for schoolyard fights, and learns to channel this energy into boxing. Her arty brother is supposed to be the boxer, but more than willingly swaps places with him, because the gender roles don't fit them and blah blah blah , but some people think girls can't box at all because sexism, yadda yadda yadda...
I thought it was refreshing, though, that this stuff takes a backseat to the story of the girl and her new love with a fellow, and eventually rival, amateur boxer. I liked that the movie only spent one line of dialogue on the whole idea that women can't box or fight. Does anyone really think that? If they do, no matter, since it's pretty easy to prove them wrong: Louise Adler was a world champion of women's boxing back in the 1920s.
The movie comes off the rails of its familiar plot when it focuses on the love story, and I give full points for making the object of the protagonist's love a total non-cliché; a young Latino who isn't a player or a thug but a sensitive person with feelings and aspirations of his own.
On paper, its plot structure has nothing to surprise you: a surly girl from the inner city is often in trouble for schoolyard fights, and learns to channel this energy into boxing. Her arty brother is supposed to be the boxer, but more than willingly swaps places with him, because the gender roles don't fit them and blah blah blah , but some people think girls can't box at all because sexism, yadda yadda yadda...
I thought it was refreshing, though, that this stuff takes a backseat to the story of the girl and her new love with a fellow, and eventually rival, amateur boxer. I liked that the movie only spent one line of dialogue on the whole idea that women can't box or fight. Does anyone really think that? If they do, no matter, since it's pretty easy to prove them wrong: Louise Adler was a world champion of women's boxing back in the 1920s.
The movie comes off the rails of its familiar plot when it focuses on the love story, and I give full points for making the object of the protagonist's love a total non-cliché; a young Latino who isn't a player or a thug but a sensitive person with feelings and aspirations of his own.