Not too many boxing films are comedies, but this is one of them (even though it is also a drama). Mainly thanks to sports film-maker Ron Shelton, who has brought to the screen films from all facets of sports (baseball- Bull Durham and Cobb, golf- Tin Cup and Basketball- White Man Can't Jump and Blue Chips). Now, he has brought boxing. But the film isn't really about boxing (like Raging Bull or Rocky was) as it is about the people who are going to be in the match- 2 good friends (Woody Harrelson and Antonio Banderas) who take a day trip from L.A. to Las Vegas to fight in the undercard for Mike Tyson (is Tyson still allowed to fight in Vegas anyway). Some great characterizations from them and they're girl (Lolita Davidovich) as they travel to Vegas, so except for the brutal yet exceptional fight at the end, most of the film is about people and not sports, as Shelton does in most of his films. Good, but not great for Shelton, but also good for sports films. A-
Review of Play It to the Bone
