Street-smart style, fierce fight scenes and some relatively good acting from a mix of stars round out this muscle-bound macho man film.
Shawn McArthur (Tatum) is a young man with big dreams, struggling to make ends meet as a new arrival to the streets of New York. Selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs he gets into a fight when some strangers attack him and steal his money and goods. Later Shawn runs into the same gang and realises they’re not thieves; they’re part of an underground street gang who fight for big money –and he wants in.
Shawn begins to fight his way to the top of the game, but gets caught up in some big scams and dangerous dealings along the way. Soon Shawn realises he may just have to fight his way out if he’s to follow his real dreams.
It’s hardly a ground-breaking story. But as with many testosterone-fuelled films, some fast action from the fists and some altogether impressive fight scenes carry it along to the end.

Fighting

Dir Dito Montiel, starring Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard and Zulay Henao

[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue23]