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Knockout
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Feel-good boxing tale, but frequent bullying and taunting.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
Bookish Matthew Miller (Daniel Magder) is upset because he is leaving his friends and beloved private school behind when his mother and stepfather find a new home in a new town. At his new school, Matthew quickly befriends two kids who proudly proclaim their allegiance to no clique, but when one of his new friends puts him up to asking out a popular cheerleader, Matthew meets the cheerleader's boyfriend, Hector -- a state boxing champion and a bully. Hector immediately begins bullying and taunting Matthew at every opportunity. When the school janitor, Dan Barnes (Steve Austin), discovers Matthew is interested in boxing, he encourages him to take up the sport and join the boxing club. After getting pummeled in the ring by Hector during boxing club tryouts, Dan -- who Matthew learns was a former boxer -- gives him a few pointers. Matthew begs Dan to train him, and teach him the art of boxing. Even as he learns and develops as a boxer under Dan's tutelage, Matthew's mother and stepfather want him to quit after a bruising incident with Hector. And when Matthew goes against his parents' wishes, Matthew must learn self-reliance and responsibility for his actions, both in and out of the ring.
Is It Any Good?
While not in the same league as other feel-good sports movies like Rocky or The Karate Kid, KNOCKOUT makes full use of its limited budget and delivers a movie with lots of boxing action. Besides this, the movie is unafraid to tackle difficult issues like bullying, high school cliques, the challenges of being the new kid in school, and the issues stepparents and stepchildren face living under the same roof. As an actor, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has a good handle on what he can and cannot do, and turns in an enjoyable performance as a high school janitor and former boxer.
Most of the dialogue -- especially between the outcast kids of the high school -- rings true, and even in spite of the occasional moments of overacting from Daniel Magder (who plays the bullied new kid), the characters are both likeable and believable. The bullying scenes and the blood in the boxing matches might be a bit much for younger or more sensitive viewers, but for boxing fans, and fans of Steve Austin's glory days as a pro wrestler, Knockout is an entertaining movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how bullying is addressed in this movie. Did school administrators, teachers, coaches, parents, and students respond appropriately to Hector's bullying? What would you do in the face of bullying?
How accurately does the film reflect the realities of cliques in high school? What rings true and what doesn't?
Overall, how does this movie compare to other "feel-good" sports movies?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 26, 2011
- Cast: Benjamin Ratner , Daniel Magder , Steve Austin
- Director: Anne Wheeler
- Studio: Phase 4 Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , High School
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: boxing action, some bullying and language
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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