There is a certain general structure that can be expected in films about fighters. A boxer or wrestler will be driven to succeed through sheer strength and commitment to their craft, and will usually have a firm supporter in their corner egging them on and ensuring that they don’t falter. Inevitably, an injury or some outside factor will threaten their physical ability, and that will be precisely the moment that everything is riding on their performance, including a large sum of money that will make or break their future. If that’s essentially the narrative framework, the richness of the characters and the performances is what’s needed to differentiate a specific film from the pack.
Let’s take a look at a new theatrical and VOD release, Jungleland…
Stanley (Charlie Hunnam) serves as trainer and manager for his brother Lion (Jack O’Connell), though there doesn’t appear to be much consistency to the fights the boxer gets. Stanley and Lion sneak in and out through the window of the place where they’re squatting, and Stanley tries to make good on the money he owes to a mobster, Pepper (Jonathan Majors), by betting on his brother, who fails to win that crucial match. Left with no other options, Stanley accepts Pepper’s offer to sponsor Lion in a brawl in San Francisco. The only catch: they have to transport a young woman named Sky (Jessica Barden) on their road trip.
Anyone who reads that short plot summary has a good idea of where this story is going. There isn’t much to elevate it, and few surprises emerge over the course of its ninety-minute runtime. But the acting is indeed strong, and the performers enhance the decently-written characters. Hunnam received ample training in how to preserve humanity in a brutal world during his time on Sons of Anarchy, and Stanley is a considerably more flawed personality than motorcycle club leader Jax was. O’Connell, who I first encountered in intense and memorable roles in Starred Up and ’71, is terrific as usual, taking what he needs from each part to make it feel lived-in. And Barden, a standout from films like The New Romantic and the Netflix series The End of the F***ing World, is a natural choice for her pivotal supporting character. Majors, who is experiencing a moment right now with The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Da 5 Bloods, and Lovecraft Country, would do best to shy away from this type of role since he’s clearly capable of so much more.
Jungleland doesn’t really distinguish itself from other films in the same genre, and leans a bit too heavily into the violence its characters encounter as a result of Stanley’s mob dealings. Focusing on the interpersonal dynamics and the brotherly relationship is far more compelling than that subplot, and where these three protagonists end up isn’t the only purpose of the film. This is a tremendous departure from director Max Winkler’s last project, Flower, which was a delightful and creative take on teenage awkwardness. This follow-up is lackluster but moderately worthwhile. For a grittier, more resounding film about the same subject, check out 2019’s Donnybrook, starring Jamie Bell and currently streaming on Showtime, instead.
Jungleland debuts in select theaters tomorrow and will be available on premium VOD and digital on November 20th