THE OPPONENT

 

 

The Opponent is a Lifetime-flick-meets-Million-Dollar-Baby-meets-The-Wrestler. The film stars Erika Eleniak (of Baywatch and Playboy fame) as a would-be female boxer. To tell the truth, I initially watched this flick pretty much to see a buffed-up Erika beat the living crap out of other buffed-up chicks (I'm perverted that way!). But, I must say, I was actually surprised at how much I got into watching this film. The movie is low-budget and the plot is pretty simple: To help escape an abusive relationship, Erika's character turns to boxing with the help of a "hunky" former boxer who owns a rundown gym. Along the way, Erika decides to turn pro in spite of the reservations of her trainer (who--of course!--becomes her lover). It's kind of like Million Dollar Baby except that Erika Eleniak is no Hillary Swank--though she is a capable actress in her own right (in spite of the fact that she's a former Baywatch babe)--and she doesn't get paralyzed in a fight and end up getting euthanized by Clint "Mr. Chair Talker" Eastwood. The scenes in the gym--where about three-fourths of the film takes place--seems pretty realistic to the point where you can almost smell the grime and the sweat. The fight training scenes also seem pretty realistic kind of like the earlier-reviewed The Wrestler. The flick does at times seem like your average Lifetime flick, especially the scenes with Erika's character and her abusive boyfriend who's about as one-dimensional as they come. However, it's a surprisingly pretty decent little film overall in spite of its obvious flaws. And, yes, we do get to see Erika's, shall we say, surgically-enhanced boobage--the way we usually do in her flicks, by the way--during the obligatory love scene with her "hunky" trainer. Just thought you'd like to know!