RESURRECTING THE CHAMP
A powerful boxing drama about honesty, integrity, and fathers and sons.
Should You Watch It?
RESURRECTING THE CHAMP is a small but powerful drama about honesty, integrity, and family relationships. Its strongest achievement is the way it explores fathers and sons: sons need love and approval from their fathers, but fathers also need love and approval from their sons.
The movie is also exceptionally well-made. Samuel L. Jackson gives an Oscar-caliber performance, and the rest of the cast does excellent work. The moral worldview is ultimately uplifting, with honesty and integrity treated seriously.
The cost is real but limited: foul language and boxing violence make this unsuitable for young children. For teenagers and adults, especially viewers who value thoughtful family drama, this is worth seeing; parents should use discernment with younger children.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESErik Kernan is a Denver sports journalist trying to escape his famous father’s shadow, improve his career, and become a better father to his son. Separated from his wife, Erik exaggerates his accomplishments while struggling under a boss who limits him to boxing coverage.
Then Erik encounters a homeless man who claims to be “Battling Bob” Satterfield, a boxer from the 1950s whom everyone believed was dead. Erik begins investigating the story, hoping it can change both his career and his family relationships.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a powerful, polished film whose writing, direction, and acting all serve its serious themes. The story handles honesty, integrity, and father-son relationships in a deep, incisive way without letting those themes overwhelm the drama.
Samuel L. Jackson delivers an Oscar-caliber performance as the title character, while the rest of the cast also does excellent work. The source calls this director Rod Lurie’s best work and describes the film as a small but powerful gem. Its boxing violence is present but less intense than in some other boxing movies.
The Worldview
The film strongly affirms honesty, integrity, love, and approval within families. It recognizes that sons need their fathers’ love and approval, while fathers also need affirmation from their sons. Lies, exaggeration, and going behind someone’s back are presented as wrong and are rebuked.
The worldview is strongly moral and ultimately uplifting. The film includes positive references and appeals to God, along with an implied Christian funeral involving a clergyman. It does not present family reconciliation as a shallow idea; instead, it treats father-son relationships as places where both people can give and receive needed love.
The central longing is for truth, approval, and restored family relationships. Scripture says, “The integrity of the upright guides them” (Proverbs 11:3).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview with a positive reference and positive appeals to God at a couple points and an implied Christian funeral with a clergyman; about 21 obscenities (including one “f” word from an unseen character on the phone), five strong profanities and three light profanities which are also definite appeals to God during a time of great stress; some boxing violence in live and televised boxing scenes and on the street, including young men try to beat up much older homeless man and former boxer, drop of blood from boxing match hits journalist’s writing pad but camera does not show the blow that caused it, fighters knocked unconscious, and back of man’s head hits trash dumpster; no sex scenes but young woman is interested in man separated from his wife but man leaves the dance floor where they were to call his wife and go to see her; upper male nudity in boxing ring; alcohol use; smoking; and, lying, exaggerating one’s importance to one’s son and going behind someone’s back because they mistreat you, but all or nearly all of these are rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Erik exaggerates his accomplishments to impress his son. Why can honesty be difficult, and what does truthful speech require from us?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22The film shows that fathers need love and approval from their sons, too. How can family members express love and encouragement to one another?
1 Thessalonians 5:11 · Ephesians 4:32Erik’s career choices affect both his work and his family relationships. How should integrity guide us when we are angry with someone who has treated us poorly?
Proverbs 10:9 · Romans 12:17–21The story connects fatherhood with responsibility and approval. What does Scripture say about the way parents and children should honor one another?
Ephesians 6:1–4The Final Word
RESURRECTING THE CHAMP is a moving, exceptionally well-acted drama about honesty, integrity, and the love between fathers and sons. Its language and boxing violence call for discernment with younger viewers, but teenagers and adults can find much to admire. WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 10 AND UP.
