Mountain Rivera is at the end of his boxing career after a knockout by Cassius Clay in the seventh round. His left eye is one punch from permanent trauma, his ears turned to cauliflower, his speech slurred from "being hit a million times", and he slings punches anytime he hears a bell His trainer and 'cutman' Army, and Miss Miller, a manipulative social worker, support his illusion that he could be a movie usher, a camp counselor—or a romantic partner for Miller.
It still packs considerable punch as a character study, although its action has slowed to where the plot padding is often obvious.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
26 Mar 2009
fresh:
A serious incisive drama that pulls no punches in its low-keyed exposure of its pitiable has been hero and the sleazy, harried sidekicks who share his sweat-stained and blood-stained world.