Punch (2002)
1h 30m | PG-13
Ariel is a troubled girl with more than the usual teenage problems. When her emotion and temper get the best of her, she is drawn into a world where she can take out her anger with her fists. In the tradition of 'Girlfight' comes a wildly original story of rage and redemption.
Director: Guy Bennett
Studio: N/A
Genre: Drama, Action, Thriller
Video: 720p
Cast
Michael Riley
as Sam
Sonja Bennett
as Ariel
Meredith McGeachie
as Julie
Marcia Laskowski
as Mary
Vincent Gale
as Irwin
Kathryn Kirkpatrick
as Beth
Reviews
If the intention and goals of a film were all that counted, Punch would rate much higher for me. I like what the movie sets out to do, and I don’t mind the less than premier production values. Imagine a movie listing only twelve actors in the credits! But the movie takes shortcuts and stretches my belief of how much change is possible quickly in a character. And where it might have hoped to be edgy and original, it comes off as exploitive and somewhat icky, to use a less than technical review term. Given the level of her psychological damage and pain, Ariel comes too far too fast in her development as a character. This story should have been handled in a miniseries at least, its time frame extended, and less emphasis on the shock value of a social taboo and, well, ickiness. But I watched the whole thing under some weird fascination, because there were kernels of potential here and there that, if explored rather than exploited, might have made for a complex and perhaps more engrossing story. But, sigh, I don’t usually rate for potential and I shouldn’t start now. I don’t regret watching it, but if I had paid 15 cannolis and used a rare trip to the theater doing it, it would be a different story.