Resurrecting the Champ (2006) PG13 - 3 Stars

Based on a true story, Resurrecting the Champ is about a sport's journalist who believes he is doing the right thing, for his career and the newspaper where he works, when he writes an article about an ex-boxer from the 50's. Erik Kernan, meets a homeless man on the streets known as the "Champ." After multiple conversations with him, he believes he had met a one time great boxer, now homeless roaming the streets, and he sees it as an opportunity to give back the glory of his past. Instead, his accuracy is in question causing a possible law suit and dissappointment from his son. But the journey allows him to reexamine what it means to be a good father, son and husband. The storyline is good, Jackson gives a great preformances but the movie is slow in excitment. I'd also like to beleive that the "Champ," was not a liar but perhaps on the streets too long to remember his entire past.

Erik Kernan (Josh Hartnett), needs just that one big break in order to jump start something positive in his life. He and his co-worker / wife Joyce (Kathryn Morris), are newly separated and Erik yearns to spend more time with his young six year old son. Living in the shadow of his famed father, a great sports journalist himself, Erik wants to set a image his son can be proud of and look up to. One night after writing about boxing match, he witnesses a homeless man, Bob (Samuel L. Jackson), getting beat up and runs to his aid. It seems the neighborhood kids, constantly pick fights with "The Champ," as he is known on the streets for his walloping punch. Erik thinks he might have just stumbled onto a story that will boost his career, and regain that special place in his sons. Every other time he tries to pitch a story at work, the editor Metz (Alan Alda), shoots him down, assigning him only small time stories but he's determined to succeed.

Battling Bob Satterfield (Samuel L. Jackson), is just the story Erik needs to raise his career to the next level. He breaks a few rules and goes behind backs to get the story, even landing him an interviewing job with Showtime. But it all backfires when he realizes Bob is not who he thought he was. Now Erik must do the impossible to regain trust while saving the newspaper from a damaging law suit and making sure his son still believes in his ability to be a good father.

Battle Plan Productions, Phoenix Pictures
Director: Rod Lurie
Writers: Rod Lurie, Chris Gerolmo, Allison Burnett
Producers: Bob Yari, Rod Lurie, Marc Frydman

I viewed 8/09