Play it to the Bone
A review by: Blake Kunisch
Directed by: Ron Shelton & Ron+Shelton
Released: January 14, 2000 - US
Posted: 1999/12/21 | 6/10 starsIf you like fly-by helicopter scenes, loud music, or boxing, you'll most likely enjoy
'Play it to the Bone,' starring Woody Harrelson (Cheers, White Men Can't Jump), Antonio
Banderas (The
13th Warrior), and Lolita Davidovich (Mystery, Alaska). Based on the premise that the
undercard fight for the Tyson fight in Vegas has to be replaced (thanks to aptly timed
drug overdoses and a car crash), Vince (Harrelson) and Cesar (Banderas) - both past their
boxing prime - are called to replace them. Now they just need to get from L.A. to Vegas.
With no money for a flight, they decide to drive. Cesar hits up his
soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend, Grace (Davidovich) for a ride to the Mandalay Bay casino. Most
of this movie takes place on the road as the three of them try and cope with their various
problems and past histories. There are many hilarious moments involved while they are in
the car, but it just seems like it's going no where. It's the same thing over and over
again, Cesar and Vince, although best friends, fighting over trivial things then making up
before they get to Vegas (saving their strength and anger).
Once we get to Vegas though, the storyline really picks up and the movie is actually
worth watching. They both need to get fired up and prepare for the fight that the
commentators think will be boring and uneventful - there's hardly even a crowd gathered
for the first of two undercard fights. The two men pass their physicals, sign their
contracts, and the fight is about to begin. They are both escorted into the ring, and once
the opening bell sounds, there's about 20 to 30 minutes of complete transcendence. The
fight scene is absolutely the best part of this movie. For about half an hour, I was glued
to the screen, watching the two boxers exchange punches, get up from being knocked down,
and although I knew the eventual conclusion, this half hour of the movie was almost able
to make up for the first hour of poor plot and movie-making. I'm not even a fan of boxing,
but during this half hour, there's nothing that could take my eyes off the screen. It is
so beautifully edited, timed, and scripted that it flows together perfectly.
All in all, the movie entertains somewhat up to the boxing match, where it just steps
up to another level and you are engrossed in the action. This movie certainly had its
parts of comedy leading up to the fight scene, but who cares? I'm almost ready to forgive
Ron Shelton for throwing in so much crap before the fight scene (and even the terrible
ending), for putting on such a show for those scant 20-30 minutes. One must also not
forget the beautiful Lucy Liu as she reprises her role in Payback to a point.
Here she plays a young 20 year old trying to get to Vegas. When the car breaks down of her
escort, she hitches a ride to Vegas with the three amigos here in exchange for gas and
food money. She once again plays the sex-crazed, money-grubbing nymph (a slight change
from her Payback role), but she just fits right into this role for some reason. She really
puts just a little bit of spice into the first half of the movie that it needs. Click here for scans of the press kit handed out at the press screening.
Genres: Comedy, Sports
Rated: R
Runtime: 150 minutes
Talk back in the discussion boards! |
|
