"The real-life Martin hailed from a West Virginia coal mining family, and led the way for women in boxing when few even realized women would want to do such a thing. Martin proved that female fighters could be every bit as fierce as their male counterparts, first arriving in the ring in 1989 after discovering her prodigious ability to knock other humans out."
"Needless to say, viewers who don't wish to see Sweeney - or any woman for that matter - getting regularly pummeled in the face for two hours and 15 minutes should approach Christy with caution. Other casting wins include Merritt Wever as Martin's well-meaning but homophobic mom, and Chad L. Coleman's pitch-perfect rendition of Don King. A little more onscreen time for Coleman would have been nice."
"In the end, what won me over with Christy was a big surprise, about three quarters of the way through, that made me literally shout "Oh my God!" at the screen. Viewers already familiar with Martin's life story won't be able to experience that moment with the same degree of shock and awe that I did. If you don't already know what happened to Martin, stay away from Google."
Sydney Sweeney stars as Christy Martin, a West Virginia native who became a pioneering female boxer after debuting in 1989. Martin was the first woman to sign with promoter Don King and the first woman inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Martin is identified as a lesbian who spent 20 years trapped in an abusive relationship with her trainer, Jim Martin. The film contains extended, realistic boxing violence and features Merritt Wever and Chad L. Coleman in notable supporting roles. A major late surprise delivers a powerful emotional impact and carries spoiler risk for unfamiliar viewers.
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