Play It To The Bone Reviews

1999

Rated:
50
from 306 members

Shelton turns his sports-minded attention to the world of boxing in this road trip comedy. Cesar (Banderas) and Vince (Harrelson) are down on their luck boxers living in Los Angeles, reminiscing over their near brushes with the big time. When they receive a call to fight in Las Vegas, they jump at the opportunity. Accompanied .. Read more

Starring	Woody Harrelson, Antonio Banderas, Lucy Liu, Lolita Davidovich
Director	Ron Shelton
Genres	Drama

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Critics' reviews (5) of Play It To The Bone
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Writer/director Ron Shelton specialises in movies about men in sport (Bull Durham, Tin Cup), so it was only a matter of time before he turned his wry gaze on the fight game. In this sports comedy drama, Antonio Banderas and White Men Can't Jump star Woody Harrelson play second-rate pugilists who get a shot at the big time when they are asked to box each other on the same bill as a Mike Tyson bout. The catch is they have less than 12 hours to get to Vegas, so the two friends hit the road with fiery Grace (Lolita Davidovich) at the wheel. Too much chat and the aggravating presence of Lucy Liu as a hitchhiking nymphomaniac make the road trip a long haul, but things pick up during the climactic fisticuffs, with a host of star cameos (James Woods, Kevin Costner, Tony Curtis) suggesting Shelton's name still opens doors in Tinseltown.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Episodic account of a couple of would-be contenders that goes nowhere; it is understandably cynical about professional boxing, but at the same time suggests its participants are to be admired.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Inspired by a locker room boxing legend, this concerns two low rent never-coulda-beens who land an invitation to fight... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Play It To The Bone
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Really, really poor

Great actors let down by a dull script and flaccid direction. Ron Shelton seems to have lost his talents here. There is a fight sequence in the middle of this film that manages to be repetitive, boring and unrealistic. Rent 'Raging Bull' instead.
- - A customer from Ringsite view
  - Posted 26 Nov 2004 13:46
If you don't have nothing to do on sunday

Kind of decent a bit too north american film. Early stages of Banderas (for those following his career) and good old woody as always. Slow at the beginning and lack of punch at the end. As i said, if you don't have nothing else to do on sunday evening.
- - Dobermann from Warwickshire
  - Posted 09 Aug 2004 11:29
Don't bother

High hopes:- Ron Shelton and Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson and good looking supporting cast.

But it was really really disappointing - got about 45 minutes in and had to give up.
- - BigKahuna from Wrexham
  - Posted 09 Nov 2004 13:21
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Play It To The Bone
View all
Don't bother

High hopes:- Ron Shelton and Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson and good looking supporting cast.

But it was really really disappointing - got about 45 minutes in and had to give up.
- - BigKahuna from Wrexham
  - Posted 09 Nov 2004 13:21
If you don't have nothing to do on sunday

Kind of decent a bit too north american film. Early stages of Banderas (for those following his career) and good old woody as always. Slow at the beginning and lack of punch at the end. As i said, if you don't have nothing else to do on sunday evening.
- - Dobermann from Warwickshire
  - Posted 09 Aug 2004 11:29

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Really, really poor

Great actors let down by a dull script and flaccid direction. Ron Shelton seems to have lost his talents here. There is a fight sequence in the middle of this film that manages to be repetitive, boring and unrealistic. Rent 'Raging Bull' instead.
- - A customer from Ringsite view
  - Posted 26 Nov 2004 13:46
If you don't have nothing to do on sunday

Kind of decent a bit too north american film. Early stages of Banderas (for those following his career) and good old woody as always. Slow at the beginning and lack of punch at the end. As i said, if you don't have nothing else to do on sunday evening.
- - Dobermann from Warwickshire
  - Posted 09 Aug 2004 11:29
Don't bother

High hopes:- Ron Shelton and Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson and good looking supporting cast.

But it was really really disappointing - got about 45 minutes in and had to give up.
- - BigKahuna from Wrexham
  - Posted 09 Nov 2004 13:21
I thought this was so funny!

And I am completely mystified as to why it never made it to the Big Screen in the UK in any big way that I can recall. In fact, I can't even remember it getting to the UK's big screen's in a small way. I saw it in America and I laughed so much. And I really didn't expect to enjoy it so much.
- - A customer from Kent
  - Posted 24 Aug 2007 09:26

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Critics' reviews (5)
Writer/director Ron Shelton specialises in movies about men in sport (Bull Durham, Tin Cup), so it was only a matter of time before he turned his wry gaze on the fight game. In this sports comedy drama, Antonio Banderas and White Men Can't Jump star Woody Harrelson play second-rate pugilists who get a shot at the big time when they are asked to box each other on the same bill as a Mike Tyson bout. The catch is they have less than 12 hours to get to Vegas, so the two friends hit the road with fiery Grace (Lolita Davidovich) at the wheel. Too much chat and the aggravating presence of Lucy Liu as a hitchhiking nymphomaniac make the road trip a long haul, but things pick up during the climactic fisticuffs, with a host of star cameos (James Woods, Kevin Costner, Tony Curtis) suggesting Shelton's name still opens doors in Tinseltown.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Episodic account of a couple of would-be contenders that goes nowhere; it is understandably cynical about professional boxing, but at the same time suggests its participants are to be admired.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Inspired by a locker room boxing legend, this concerns two low rent never-coulda-beens who land an invitation to fight... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
...PLAY IT TO THE BONE is as much a road movie as a fight film....[The fight is] expertly choreographed...
- Sight and Sound
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Hilarious...Shelton's dialogue sparkles...The casting is brilliant...
- Box Office
- Posted 11 Mar 2005

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  Shelton turns his sports-minded attention to the world of boxing in this road trip comedy. Cesar (Banderas) and Vince (Harrelson) are down on their luck boxers living in Los Angeles, reminiscing over their near brushes with the big time. When they receive a call to fight in Las Vegas, they jump at ...