Southpaw tells a subpar story with good performances by a few actors. The film goes right into the meat within the first 15 minutes: it strips everything away from the protagonist: his reputation, his career, his family, his wealth you name it. Unfortunately the movie chose to do it in a contrived and unbelievable manner that it dips in parody. The protagonist loves his daughter like nothing else in the world until the script tells him he doesn't and he neglects her one hundred percent in a time where she needs her father the most. He was never portrayed to be that kind of a father, but for some reason he is. That's not how grief works unless there was previous resentment deep down. His child suddenly doesn't love him either, she talks and behaves like an adult for the rest of the movie. Again none of the inconsistencies are the fault of the actors but the screenplay alone. The movie does a lot of these absolute 180's out of nowhere with no build-up or resolution. The script shies away from EVERY single opportunity to show the protagonist overcoming any of his trials and tribulations.

Getting a new job? Apparently he can only take the job as a cleaner at the gym (the absolute cliché). Regardless that this was the 5th time back-to-back world-champ two weeks ago. You don't tell me no one was willing to give this guy a job or an advertisement deal?

The movie says he wants his daughter back from Child Services and needs a job. Do we see him job hunting? Nope. Protagonist has clearly anger issues, do we ever see him working on that main flaw that took everything away from? Nope. Protagonist has to convince local trainer to trust him. Do we see a bonding of two characters who couldn't be more antagonistic on their first meeting? Nope. Character has to switch to train Southpaw within weeks which is not easy at all. Well, you know the answer.

And that's just the top four that come to my mind. The few good things: The movie has good boxing performances at the very end. Forest Whittaker gives an exceptional performance. Gyllenhaal is good but confined to work in cliché situations. That's it. So this is just another mediocre entry by Antoine Fuqua who continues to churn out sub-par movies.