Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson, Lolita Davidovich, Lucy Liu
January and February have become the dumping ground for once-promising movies that, upon completion, stink worse than an old gym bag. Case in point: Play It to the Bone, a rambling, pointless buddy film about prizefighters. Writer-director Ron Shelton shows far less spring in his sneaker here than he did in his previous real-guys-sweat dramas Bull Durham, Tin Cup and White Men Can't Jump.
In Bone, Harrelson and Banderas play washed-up boxers who are best buds. If they can make it from L.A. to Las Vegas by nightfall, they will be paired on the undercard of a Mike Tyson fight. The two sweet-talk Davidovich, a flinty dame who is dating Banderas but was previously Harrelson's honey, into giving them a ride in her convertible. Much raunchy dialogue and all 10 rounds of a match between Banderas and Harrelson—the outcome is never in doubt—follow. The two male leads seem to be enjoying themselves and sock each other convincingly, but even the fight scenes lack punch. (R)
Bottom Line: Down for the count
Your Reaction
