''On the Ropes'' is a 2011 British

mockumentary film A mockumentary (a blend of ''mock'' and ''documentary''), fake documentary or docu-comedy is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events but presented as a documentary. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on ...

written and directed by

Mark Noyce Mark Noyce (born 3 March 1974) is an English actor, writer, film director and producer. Early life Noyce was born in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire,Before 1 April 1974 Peterborough was part of Northamptonshire the son of May Doreen (Bayford) and W ...

. It follows the fictional character of martial arts instructor Keith Kraft and his rivalry with boxing gym owner Big Joe, played by actor and former boxer Joe Egan. The cast also includes

Ben Shockley Ben Shockley (born 3 February 1965) is an English actor. Early life Shockley (born David White) grew up in Hythe, Kent, the son of Alan Richard White (deceased) and Elsie Alice White. Career Shockley has appeared in films such as '' On the Ropes ...

, Lindsay Honey, Raymond Griffiths, Sean Byrne and Alex Vincent.

Cast

* Joe Egan as Big Joe *

as Keith Kraft *

as Mick Western * Lindsay Honey as Arthur * Steve Coleman as Shane Powers * Raymond Griffiths as Jack * Emma Louise Cargill as Candy * Sean Byrne as Grant * Alex Vincent as Prank Caller *

Pelé Reid Pelé Jerry Wabara Reid (born 11 January 1973, in Newtown, Birmingham) is a retired British heavyweight boxer. He currently resides in Birmingham, West Midlands and is a personal trainer. He is a former WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight cham ...

as Competition fighter * Brooke Burfitt as Sarah (Joe Egan's girlfriend)

Premiere and UK DVD release

The film was premiered at the Luxe cinema on 6 December 2011.

, Steve Coleman and Emma Louise Cargill attended a public showing on 7 December 2011 and provided a questions and answers session to members of the audience. The UK DVD was released on 23 April 2012.

Critical reception

The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. Britflicks critic Zachary Cooke gave the film a favourable review saying "There may not be an obvious category to put on the Ropes into, but it’s really just a great film that tips its hat to documentaries, dramas and the egos of those that are part of reality TV". He was also complimentary about the quality of the acting and commented that "Both lead actors

and

are very convincing in their roles". Richard Cross of A Full Tank of Gas stated "Thankfully, while on the Ropes is highly derivative of

The Office ''The Office'' is a mockumentary sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, first made in the United Kingdom, then Germany, and subsequently the United States. It has since been remade in ten other countries. The original series o ...

– particularly in the performance of leading man

, who also wrote and directed – it generates a surprising amount of good will on the part of the viewer thanks largely to likeable performances and a refusal to take itself too seriously". However he went on to write that "While Noyce gives an enjoyable performance as Kraft, his mannerisms and speech patterns are so closely modelled on those of The Office’s

David Brent David Brent is a fictional character in the BBC television mockumentary ''The Office'', portrayed by the show's co-creator, co-writer and co-director Ricky Gervais. Brent is a white-collar office middle-manager and the principal character of ...

that his performance draws unnecessary – and unfavourable – comparisons, which is a shame because it diminishes his achievements in other departments". The British Comedy Guide editor Mark Boosey wrote "this mockumentary gets off to a faltering start as it struggles to focus on anything in particular". but felt "things improve when the movie does settle down on the idea of following around and focusing on karate instructor Keith Kraft. This monstrous egocentric 'plonker' carries many of the film's best lines and set pieces, and is played very well by the film's creator,

.”

Soundtrack

Songs featured in 'On the Ropes' are: *"You" by Neil Cousin *"You’re my favorite actor" by This Machine 'Smoking Monkey Remix' (Remix by Andy Sweet) *"Karaoke" by Ask Alfie *"I’ve been down" by Dallas Twyman *"Shellac" by Captain Black No Stars *"Islamjam" by Carbide *"Make a breakthrough" by Petruccio, Lamont featuring Lianne Harvey *"Where you sleep" by This Machine *"Doors" by Kenworthy *"Room with a view" by Lexie Green *"Lazy days" by The 925s

References

External links

* * * {{British Comedy Guide, film, on_the_ropes, On the Ropes
Grange farm studio

On the Ropes on Britscene

British Film Council

NME Online magazine

Interview with Mark Noyce

Joe Egan in the Evening Telegraph

Mark Noyce in the Evening Telegraph
2011 films British sports comedy films British mockumentary films 2010s sports comedy films British boxing films 2010s mockumentary films 2011 comedy films 2010s English-language films 2010s British films