BIG GEORGE FOREMAN is a BIG DUD. This is what happens to biopics when the titular character (in this case George Foreman himself) is alive and exec produces the project. He was too hands-on.
This story is a heavy-handed catalogue of Foreman’s highlight reel. We don’t need a film of highlights when actual highlights are easily available.
Sans Bryant Gumbel, this film unfolded like a weak version of an HBO Sports segment, offering fans access into the boxer’s training regiment and backstory before the big fight. The problem why this doesn’t work is it’s redundant.
The demo for this biopic is middle-age boxing fans already familiar with Foreman’s legacy — who saw the fights live and read all the splashy news stories in realtime. So in that way, this story is rhetorical and curated, in the worst way.
I personally would’ve preferred this biopic focused on the build-up to either the Ali fight or the Liston fight or his walk with God. Stuffing all of them into one film felt serialized.
It’s also miscast, which is not newcomer Khris Davis’ fault. He delivers the performance they asked for. That significantly contributes to the film’s shortcomings and inevitable failure to attract an audience. This role might’ve been better suited for a veteran actor — more vocal and commanding — who could’ve guided the performance without the heavy influence of Foreman.
Lastly, I expect quality storytelling from Director George Tillman, Jr. He not only directed this subpar film, he cowrote it. This is a stain on his record.
