Meg Ryan excels in the romantic comedy. It’s what she does best. She’s starred in some of the most memorable films in the genre: When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. Yet, when she tries to play against type, she simply isn't that convincing. She was just okay as the wife of the kidnapped scientist in Proof of Life. She wasn't the least bit credible in last year's In the Cut and as the tough-as-nails, brassy, real-life boxing promoter, Jackie Kallen; she simply can't go the full 12 rounds.

Against the Ropes is inspired by the true story of Jackie Kallen, one of the first successful female boxing managers. Under her management, she led four fighters to world titles, including Tommy ‘The Hit Man’ Hearns and James Toney. But the magic word for today kiddies is inspired. What does this mean? It means that the movie is 99% fiction and 1% fact. I can't help but thing that this would have been a much more compelling story if it would have stayed truer to the source.

As a young girl, Kallen grew up idolizing her uncle, a professional fighter, and dreaming of a career in boxing. Flash forward some 25 years later and the closest she’s been able to get to the boxing world is working as the over-worked and under-appreciated executive assistant for a chauvinistic arena manager (Joe Cortese). But she finally gets her shot when boxing promoter, Sam LaRocca (Tony Shaloub), jokingly gives her the contract for a washed-up fighter. By happenstance, she comes across Luther Shaw (Omar Epps) who has a natural affinity for the sport. With the help of formerly retired trainer, Felix Reynolds (Charles S. Dutton, who also directed) and a smitten sports reporter (Tim Daly), Shaw and Kallen become overnight sensations. The trouble begins when Kallen becomes addicted to the limelight; shamelessly promoting herself at the expense of everyone else around her. True to form, she is forced to reexamine her priorities and her relationships.

Meg plays Kallen as a tough - but perky - cookie. Yet, she still suffers from a lack of credibility. The penchant for dressing Kallen like a hooker also takes away from the authenticity of the character. I find it hard to believe that a woman who is striving to be taken seriously in the chauvinistic, macho world of professional fighting would dress like a stripper.

I think Dutton did the best that he could do with a script that was flat and woefully predictable. The promoters were predictably sleazy. The trainer was typically earnest and wise. The fighter was predictably uneducated and angry (but also predictably calmer and smarter by the end). Where Dutton’s direction comes alive is during the climatic fight scene at the end of the film. Those fight sequences were the only scenes where I felt completely engaged in the movie.

While none of the performances are stellar, there are two that deserve an honorable mention. Those performances belong to Epps and Shaloub. Epps is quite buff and believable as Shaw. He wisely chooses to keep his anger smoldering and intense instead of playing it big and loud. It works for him in the film. I actually saw more character growth in his character than in Kallen’s. Tony Shaloub is enjoyable intense and cocky as the greedy and intimidating promoter.

I predict Against the Ropes will be down for the count and out of theatres in about two weeks.

UPDATE: I was right. It was out of theatres in about two weeks!