All in all, this is an okay film. The plot is very simple, and the characters are fairly interesting. I understand that this movie is supposed to be about second chances, but I couldn't help but think after the movie's very predictable ending, what the hell was the point of the movie? What was the epiphany reached, and what was the point of characters like Lucy Liu being in the story? 90% of the film is spent during the car ride to Vegas, which is good and bad, it gives a personal touch to a movie, yet does get kind of old after a while. I like Woody Harelson's character b\c I can relate to him in a lot of respects. One thing I found unrealistic, no chick would ever ditch Antonio 'de sexy' Banderas, I almost laughed when she 'broke up' with him. Antonio also looked a little weak for a boxer, but the fight scene in the end was not effected by it. The end is actually the best part of the movie, yet it is very predictable. Overall, not a bad friday night movie if you have some time to kill and a few beers to pounce. 6/10

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-

While working out in a Los Angeles gym, nearly washed-up boxer pals Antonio Banderas (as Cesar Dominguez) and Woody Harrelson (as Vince Boudreau) receive an invitation. They are offered a bout in Las Vegas for $50,000 each, with the winner getting to fight for the middleweight crown. The men get entrepreneurial Lolita Davidovich (as Grace Pasic) to head out for Vegas, in her bright green Oldsmobile. She appears to be interested in both men, although Mr. Banderas plays both sides of the ring and Mr. Harrelson likes picking up young skanks. The trio drive to Vegas so the men can fight and Ms. Davidovich can peddle her "bed periscope" and "athlete's foot sock" inventions to Las Vegas promoters. Insatiable and arrogant 20-year-old Lucy Liu (as Lia) joins the group at a diner. Several celebrities have cameos...

Writer-director Ron Shelton has a competently made, but uninteresting story to tell. The three main characters are supposed to have close relationships, but really only occupy the same screen...

The men attempt to demonstrate a camaraderie, but are still eager to beat each other savagely. If the fight is supposed to be a substitute for sex, it's unsuccessful. The opening minutes suggest the theme of sexual threesomes, but it's never explored beyond the two depictions of wealthy men having two suggestively Lesbian super-models as bed partners. Banderas' character is apparently bisexual and Harrelson's a born-again Christian, but neither characteristic is convincing; possibly, these traits are given to get the men in a fighting mood. The big boxing match does make sense, scoring-wise. We learn that boxers hallucinate when the going gets ugly. Davidovich starts off encouraging, but has limited appeal. By the way, the best punch is thrown by Davidovich. And her bout with Robert Wagner isn't bad, either.

*** Play It to the Bone (1999-12-25) Ron Shelton ~ Woody Harrelson, Antonio Banderas, Lolita Davidovich, Lucy Liu