By: Jade Luo <[email protected]>

The first scenes of “Resurrecting the Champ” feature a few college students beating up a homeless man. Great, I thought, a mindless boxing movie with a few bloody and broken noses in between. But, boy, was I in for a sweet surprise.

“Resurrecting the Champ” centers in on struggling reporter Erik Kernan Jr. (Josh Hartnett), who has been trying to make his own name and distinguish himself from his successful father nearly all his life. As a reporter for the Denver Times, Kernan’s writing is meager and “lacks personality.” One night, he sees the fight from the first scene and he helps the homeless man, who calls himself “the Champ.” Kernan soon learns that the Champ (Samuel L. Jackson) is actually 1950s boxing legend Bob Satterfield. Intrigued to find the former third-in-the-world boxer on the streets, Kernan seizes this opportunity to revive his own dying career.

As Kernan becomes better friends with the Champ, he is forced to re-evaluate his personal life, from his separation with his wife to his relationship with his son. The intertwining of their lives brings about a heart-wrenching story about fatherhood, truth and love.

What’s impressive about the film is that director Rod Lurie could make a plain sports story into something profound. The story line is planned out well, and Lurie manages to bring in an element of surprise to the movie. It makes such a statement that it forces audiences to think about the themes for hours afterward.

The highlight of the movie is the acting. Jackson excels in an Oscar-worthy performance. Something about the way he holds himself presents a fuller understanding of his complex character. It doesn’t hurt that Jackson really nails the Champ’s witty and chuckle-inducing lines.

Hartnett is great as well. He moves from the characters of father, husband, journalist and son with such ease and believability.

The script, too, was noteworthy and clever, blending just enough humor into the dramatic story line to keep it from being too pressing and dark.

The only negative was that the movie was a little slow-paced. There was nothing really that could have been cut out of the movie, just that the themes of the movie simply took a bit too long to explain.

Ultimately, “Resurrecting the Champ” is a great break from the typical popcorn flick about defeating popularity and scoring the good-looking significant other. Like any great movie, its powerful message forces viewers to think. Just watch it. You won’t be disappointed.