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This film boasts a talented ensemble, telling the real-life story of coach Ingle, who guided a cheeky Yorkshire teenager from Yemeni migrant family. Dubbed “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the youngster was taught to stand up to prejudice and molded into a celebrity world champion in the 1990s. Ingle nurtured his showboating confidence and lethal fists, but after becoming rich, the boxer turned against his mentor, excluding him and making him a blend of John Falstaff and Broadway Danny Rose.

Performers and Roles

Pierce Brosnan portrays the trainer; El-Masry takes on the role of Hamed, and Stephens is the assertive promoter Warren, who recognized the goldmine that the coach had uncovered.

Film’s Shortcomings

However, the film honestly misses the fighter’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes flow well, but the all-important story in between is repeatedly flat and one-note. There is no subtlety or light and shade in the portrayal of Hamed himself, and the actor, an otherwise excellent talent, isn’t given the chance to show any subtlety or much of what might make his character really interesting – even though he’s obviously been working out and looks very plausible in the boxing arena.

Problems with Script and Sound

The drama is repeatedly lumbered with utilitarian, explanatory dialogue that tell you precisely what is going on and what we are meant to feel (“Your journey began your career at age seven …”). It is the sort of script that digital producers call “second-screen”, making sure you know what’s unfolding while you’re viewing the movie but also glancing at your phone. And, the score is overpowering, sometimes nearly overwhelming, particularly in the moment where Hamed gets too excited calling on Warren in his palatial residence.

Acting and Pivotal Scenes

While the leads do their very utmost, their relationship doesn’t quite ignites, and the big set-piece fight scenes are often disappointingly cut short. The most important moment is certainly when, provoked past his limit in the training facility one day by Hamed as a misguided “old man”, the trainer actually offers to step into the ring and fight him. All present in the room is stunned and uneasy. In what way is this insanely risky confrontation going to play out? What will be the outcome? Certainly the Prince is going to kill him? Or will he emotionally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Highlights and Humor

This isn’t to imply that there aren’t some good moments. The actor gets laughs when Ingle tells a reporter what he’s instructing the kids from his local community: to reject prejudice and when you meet a offender, “Punch him in the bollocks”. Amusing too when Hamed squirms at the silly antics Ingle makes him do in the beginning: acting like the “monster from the East”.

Storyline and Final Thoughts

As for the rift, the film depicts this as being worsened by a revealing book that the trainer is allegedly authored (a story element clearly adapted from another source), and there is an interestingly conceived last discussion – however the emotional tribute that the boxer is reportedly paid to his mentor after his death is merely referenced in the closing credits, and not dramatised on screen. There is interesting material here, but the punches don’t land.

The film screened at the London film festival and is in UK and Irish cinemas from 9 January.