'Uppercut' Review: A Boxing Drama That Packs a Punch
- Romey Norton
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - September 24, 2025
Boxing movies are a tried-and-true cinematic staple, but Uppercut makes an early declaration: it’s not about belts, knockouts, or training montages. Instead, Torsten Ruether’s drama uses the ring as a backdrop for a more personal story of resilience, mentorship, and the bonds that shape us. With Golden Globe winner Ving Rhames at its core, alongside Luise Grossman and Emmy nominee Jordan E. Cooper, the film delivers an exploration of fighting in life just as much as fighting in the gym.
What is Uppercut about?
Set in 2014, the film introduces Toni (Luise Grossman), a young German immigrant in Bushwick who insists on training with Elliott (Ving Rhames), a grizzled ex-fighter turned gym owner. Their first encounter borders on cliché; he doesn’t want to train her, and she refuses to take no for an answer. But rather than focusing on physical triumphs, the film digs into emotional ones, as Toni and Elliott forge a connection that changes both their lives.
The film begins where Toni is no longer the eager novice but a pioneering female boxing manager. Her latest challenge is guiding Payne (Jordan E. Cooper) toward a championship while struggling with the very real stakes of family, as her daughter’s health crisis looms at home. We then flash back eight years and watch as Toni forms and solidifies her career.
As Elliott, Ving Rhames does what he does best: deliver gravitas. His presence grounds the film, giving Elliott a lived-in weight. Grossman brings fresh energy to Toni; she’s a headstrong immigrant but filled with vulnerability. She holds her own opposite Rhames, and their chemistry is what keeps the film compelling. Jordan E. Cooper shines as Payne, offering raw charisma that suggests an arc beyond the typical “rising fighter” role.
Director Torsten Ruether resists the temptation to make Uppercut a sports spectacle. Instead of flashy fight sequences, the film allows conversations to breathe. The long takes bring an almost documentary-like intimacy, giving the actors space to improvise and inhabit their roles fully.
That restraint is both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand, it distinguishes Uppercut from formulaic boxing dramas like Creed or Million Dollar Baby. On the other hand, it risks alienating audiences expecting adrenaline-pumping fight choreography.
The plot and story are easy and believable, but lack drive and drama at times, and therefore can feel slow. And whilst the conversation is intimate, the script could have been re-worked as it misses a depth to make their relationship strong and heartfelt. And as a viewer, I wasn’t really rooting for anyone - I was just following her story to success as we know she makes it.
Is Uppercut worth watching?
Uppercut may not throw the flashiest punches, but it connects where it matters: the heart. Torsten Ruether’s drama is more about emotional endurance than physical triumph, more about human connection than championship belts. It’s an indie boxing film that isn’t reinventing the genre, and that’s why it’s nice but not memorable.
Uppercut has a limited theatrical release with Lionsgate. Digital release on Amazon Prime Video on November 1, 2025.
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