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
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