In Channing Tatum’s latest project, “Fighting,” it’s clear this Hollywood hottie’s “acting career” is in reality, one giant promotional gig. Just the poster of his latest flick advertises his immense levels of testosterone, with Tatum in a simple white T-shirt, jaw clenched, looking like the stereotypical manly man. Throughout this young heartthrob’s career, fans have come to rely on Tatum’s “talents,” usually involving a lack of clothing, to keep money flowing into the box office, and they can usually always count on his list of special talents to satisfy the Tatum craze: He can play soccer (“She’s the Man”), do back flips, hip-hop dance (“Step Up”) and look ridiculously attractive while doing it. He also cannot act, but fans aren’t complaining. They aren’t exactly going to his films for a genuinely moving acting experience. So, fans of this pretty boy thug can be happy to hear that although “Fighting” ultimately has no premise and terrible acting, Tatum will beat people up with his shirt off, which — let’s be honest — is exactly what girls are coming for.
“Fighting” tells the story of Shawn MacArthur (Tatum, “Stop Loss”) and his struggle to survive on the money-hungry streets of New York. Shawn lives on the edge of poverty, until hustler Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard, “Iron Man”) takes an interest in his street fighting skills. Making his way from fight to fight and gaining a reputation, Shawn must face the underground world of the rich and powerful while also keeping his morals at heart.
The film tries to dive deeper with a good ol’ “my father never loved me” back story, which falls flat due to a lack of development and explanation. It might have something to do with Shawn beating up his father during high school and getting kicked off the wrestling team, but who really cares? Tatum’s shirt is off again, there’s hip-hop music playing and people yelling… let’s move on.
Without much of a back story to fill out Tatum’s character, Shawn falls back on looking tough-but-sensitive while swaggering through nightclubs with Harvey by his side. While Howard has proven his acting chops in movies such as “Iron Man” and “Hustle & Flow,” his character in “Fighting” has a few good one-liners, but ultimately looks tired and worn out. Shawn’s sassy Latina love interest, Zulay (Zulay Valez) stutters her lines and is irritating too feisty, giving off way too much attitude. Ultimately, all the characters of “Fighting” are shallow and irritating, making the actual fighting scenes a pleasant break from the forced script and painful effort to add any kind of depth to the plot.
On another note, the fighting doesn’t even get very impressive until halfway through the movie, making Harvey’s faith in Shawn’s skills a little skeptical and unbelievable. Toward the end however, there is one ultimate fight scene that lives up to the simple title of the movie, but really, that’s about it.
As the painful scars of fighting begins to wear on Tatum’s perfect face, so does the premise of the film on its audiences. Looking around the theater, it’s pretty obvious “Fighting” is one of those films teenage girls go to for ogling at the man-candy, while high school couples go to the back row to make out. And really, there’s not much to get out of “Fighting” whether you’re sucking face or really paying attention. So if you want to see some guys get their asses handed to them, and Tatum sweaty and bloody with his shirt off, then enjoy ladies…we all deserve a little man-candy once and a while.
2 out of 5 stars.
