Metacritic Movie Ratings
Resurrecting the Champ Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 75

  out of 100

  Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert

  Jackson disappears into his role, completely convincing, but then he usually is. What a fine actor. He avoids pitfalls like making Champ a maudlin tearjerker, looking for pity. He's realistic, even philosophical, about his life and what happened to him.

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• 70

  out of 100

  The Hollywood Reporter

  Charged by a knock-out performance from Samuel L. Jackson, this compelling story of manly redemption will deliver a winning boxoffice combination of word of mouth and ultimately step outside the generic ring of sports lore.

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• 60

  out of 100

  The New York TimesStephen Holden

  For Mr. Lurie, who specializes in political subjects, Resurrecting the Champ is an encouraging return to film following the rise and fall of his television series "Commander in Chief."

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• 60

  out of 100

  Variety

  Overly sentimentalized and the execution is slack. If not for Samuel L. Jackson's performance as the ravaged boxer, "Champ" would be of limited interest.

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• 60

  out of 100

  Los Angeles TimesKevin Crust

  Delivers a heckuva story marred by some credibility problems but lands the majority of its punches via subtly powerful performances and a moving undercard of paternal connection.

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• 50

  out of 100

  Wall Street Journal

  The movie itself -- which deals (not very interestingly) with the issue of journalistic integrity and (very predictably) with father-son relationships -- doesn't pack much of a wallop.

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• 33

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum

  The gooey sanctity of the bond between fathers and sons all but nullify Jackson's zesty performance.

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