In this biopic of boxer Jack Dempsey, Treat Williams plays the title role. Starting from humble beginnings, he's taught how to fight by his older brother Jesse Vint. He bids goodbye to his family and sets out for New York, where he's determined to become World Champion. Along the way, he meets the older, experienced nightclub singer, Sally Kellerman, and some shady characters who don't exactly have his best interest at heart.
Even to laypeople like me who know nothing of the world of boxing, Jack Dempsey is a well-known name. So, when Sam Waterston shows up and tells Treat Williams he can turn his career around and really get him some good fights, the audience can tell he'll be a great manager. But, if there's anyone out there who doesn't know Jack Dempsey's career—don't worry, I didn't either—I won't spoil anything else about the plot.
While there's nothing particularly wrong with this made-for-TV biopic, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about it, either. The script is painfully cheesy, the music is just a little too cheerful, and the acting is a touch over-the-top—the three elements of a classic TV movie out of the 80s! If Dempsey is your favorite fighter, or if your guilty pleasure is watching bad TV movies, go ahead and rent this one. Everyone else can probably skip it.
