Boxing movies are a dime a dozen. Some movies such as Somebody Up There Likes Me or Rocky have a heart and soul.

Others like Raging Bull have a central character that is heavily flawed but made up by bravado filmmaking and acting performance.

Southpaw is just creatively bankrupt. It is really a downbeat nihilist rehash of Rocky 3.

Jake Gyllenhaal muscles up as Billy Hope. An orphan turned light heavyweight boxing champion. He has money, cars and a luxury house.

His devoted wife Maureen (Rachel McAdams) wants him to turn his back on boxing now he is nearing the end of his career. Spend more time with her and his young daughter Leila.

Billy's manager Jordan Mains (50 Cent) wants him to take on a few more easy fights as a good payday.

Lurking menacingly is brash contender Miguel 'Magic' Escobar who is trying to entice Billy to a fight with some bad behaviour. Just as Clubber Lang did with Rocky.

In a public fracas with Escobar, Maureen ends up being shot dead with no one convicted. Billy's life descends in a haze of drugs, booze and violence. He loses custody of his daughter and his wealth.

The only solace is to start again at rock bottom. He wants to join up with trainer Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker) but he does not take on professionals. Tick also knows that Billy needs to learn new life lessons. His behaviour by engaging in a brawl with Escobar that led to Maureen's death when Billy should had simply walked away.

Simply put, Billy makes one stupid decision after another. Even at the court hearing dealing with his daughter's custody. He cannot stop swearing in front of the judge.

Like a mediocre boxer's jab. Southpaw is a blandly predictable movie with everything telegraphed in advance.