She's a girl dreaming of making it in the male-dominated world of boxing promotion. He's a kid from the wrong side of the tracks desperate to break out of the ghetto. Can they take on the world together and win? Well, yes, obviously they can, because we're in Hollywood cliché-land. While one can see why the life story of female boxing promoter Jackie Kallen (played here by Meg Ryan) would appeal to studio execs - there's boxing for the boys and an uplifting story of female empowerment for the girls - what emerges is an uncertain, ragged mess, hampered by a simplistic script and a strangely unappealing performance from Ryan. Despite the energy injected by the likeable Omar Epps as the wannabe champ and Tony Shalhoub's enthusiastic hamming as a thoroughly sexist rival promoter, Against the Ropes remains a distinctly featherweight affair.

A fictional story inspired by North America's most famous female boxing promoter, Jackie Kallen. Her struggle to survive and succeed in a male dominated sport.