After a couple of unforeseen circumstances, casino owner Hank Goody (Robert Wagner), fight promoters Joe Domino (Tom Sizemore) and Artie (Richard Masur) need a couple of fighters quick to fill the undercard that night. They call up over-the-hill Cesar Dominguez (Antonio Banderas) and Vince Boudreau (Woody Harrelson). The two best friends get Grace Pasic (Lolita Davidovich), who has been involved with both, to drive from L.A. to Vegas. Along the way, they pick up hitchhiker Lia (Lucy Liu).This wants to be a comedic romp but sometimes it's off-putting. It starts with plenty of darkness and then Tom Sizemore gets terribly annoying. Harrelson and Banderas have good buddy chemistry. Davidovich is a pretty brassy broad and she steals the movie from the guys. I wanted Lucy Liu to stay in this movie. I really wanted to like this but I'm not really laughing.

This is one of my favorite sporting films of all time. Simply because it doesn't try to go over board with fighting, or make this out to be simple boxing movie with no plot. Play it to the Bone, is about two best friends, who happen to be two boxers who once were great fighters and potential contenders for the title shot.As luck would have it, the two friends get a chance to face each other and fight not only for some money, which they both need as both of them are pretty broke, but also the winner gets a title shot.This film is about friendship, courage and one's faith in himself more then it is about sports or boxing. Now, don't get me wrong it has some nice boxing scenes and both Woody Harrelson and Antonio Banderas do an excellent job as boxers, and friends and have really great chemistry together. The two are also very good at comical moments and know how to be funny, which gives this film some needed laughs and makes it that much more enjoyable.I would definitely recommended this film to any one and every one, who likes comedies, actions, sports, drama or simply feel good movies.

Play It to the Bone is problematic in that it fails with each of its target audiences, but that doesn't mean it can't shine with the right viewer.Sports fans who want frequent boxing action will be disillusioned with the incessant dialog that fills the majority of the film (including the first hour and a half). Those seeking a character driven comedy piece will be turned off by the limited info we receive about the protagonists and the simple plot.Yet, there is a certain sweet spot of viewers that are well-suited for the film. It's important that the audience be enthusiastic about boxing and the lifestyle of fighters, as the greatest payoffs come from Banderas and Harrelson's career back-stories and ultimate combative showdown. At the same time, moviegoers cannot be too pretentious or demand award-winning plot lines and ideologically challenging messages. Instead, it's important to take the film's purpose for what it is: to tell the story of two almost washed-up guys who learn they've reached a point in their lives that demands they lay everything on the line if they want any chance to still make a name for themselves.The fight scenes are superbly shot and are among the most realistic in movie history. You won't find Sly Stallone and Carl Weathers alternating between hay-makers here; instead shots are crisp, cuts and swelling look brutally realistic, and the announcers, cornermen, and patrons that are so distinctive to boxing's atmosphere are transposed from real life to the screen.This movie will not change your life. You will not be laughing out loud until your sides split. You already need to know enough about boxing to enjoy Play it to the Bone that you probably won't gain any insight about fighters from it. But, you'll have some laughs, remember some moments, and get paid off with some remarkable boxing action at the end of your two hour journey.

'Play It to the Bone' is underrated and definitely underseen. It's just fun to watch. In fact this movie is perfect. The cast, the acting, the direction, the story, are all perfect.You see, nowadays we are used to these super-productions with uncontrollable budgets, that they are ultimately nothing too special. To me 'Play It to the Bone' is a work of art a lot more important than 'Phantom Menace' or 'Lord of the Rings-whichever part'.Furthermore 'Play It to the Bone' is actually one of the best boxing movies. And the celebrity cameos are nice.This movie has got humor, suspense, a solid story and substance. I have seen it many times occasionally on TV and it still feels fresh every time I watch it.10/10