Meg Ryan is about as name brand as you get when it comes to actresses. Her cutesy looks and girl-next-door romances have been entertaining audiences since 1986 when she held her own against Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards in “Top Gun,” and then burst onto the A-list in 1989’s “When Harry Met Sally.” She has since tried to infuse some dramatic roles into her repertoire, but it seems as though it is more often miss than hit. Last year’s thriller “In the Cut” was yet another let down, both financially and critically.

After sitting on the shelf for almost a year, Ryan’s latest dramatic staring role as boxing manager Jackie Kallen in Paramount’s “Against the Ropes” is finally being released. Following the success of “Erin Brockovich” and its positive female role-model story, Kallen’s life story of how she was the first woman to ever successfully break into the male dominated boxing management world and manage a world champion seemed a logical follow up. With Ryan in the staring role, it seems as though this was another opportunity to change that cutesy image.

When you think of boxing movies, surely classics such as “Rocky” and “Raging Bull” come to mind. Gritty underdogs who fought through adversity to rise to the level of champions based on talent and drive. In “Against the Ropes,” the underdog boxer is Luthor Shaw (played by Omar Epps), but the film’s focus is not on the his story, but on Kallen’s struggle against the “boys club.” Yes, we do get Luthor’s upbringing from a ghetto thug to Amateur Champion and the requisite in-the-ring boxing scenes, but Kallen is definitely the central figure.

As the story goes, Kallen grew up in boxing gyms, with her boxing trainer father and boxing uncle “Ray Ray.” Jump to present day, Kallen is an Executive Assistant for a “made” boxing promoter and is constantly covering for the lug. With a smart head and an even smarter mouth, when the hometown manager’s champion loses his title, Kallen comments that the boxer is a reflection of his manager. Larocca (played by Tony Shahloub), insulted by the woman, challenges Kallen to see if she could manage his fighter any better, and agrees to sell her the contract for $1.00. Kallen takes the challenge, and soon finds out that she overpaid, since the boxer is on crack and other drugs. However, when a street thug (Epps) beats up the drug-riddled former champ over a drug deal, Kallen sees raw talent and talks him into becoming her first client. She manages her diamond in the rough to an undefeated status, eventually challenging Larocca’s newest champion for the belt.

Unfortunately, the significance of Kellen’s effort and eventual achievement in breaking the proverbial glass ceiling is overridden by the drama of the background story. When Kellen gets obsessed with the attention and notoriety she achieves because of her boxer’s success, she loses her integrity to the people that supported her and helped her get to that point, namely Luthor and her friends, and becomes very self-centered. Kellen eventually realizes her mistakes, and instead of a logical attempt at trying to reconcile, after a few overly dramatic scenes, all is well, and everyone loves her again.

As Kellen, Ryan does an adequate job being smart and sexy, but never really comes across as being strong. Instead, she is repeatedly seen looking as though she’d been crying, using her friends, and basically being lucky to have achieved her success; none of her accomplishments seems to be attributed to her. By comparison, Erin Brokovich was a force to be reckoned with, constantly standing up to “the enemy” (corporations and men) with a confidence and strength not seen before in a female. Kellen is instead reduced to an attractive woman with brain, getting a break with a talented boxer and running with it. Unfortunately, I think her real story is much more inspiring.

The supporting cast is adequate, with Charles Dutton doing double-duty as Director and boxing Trainer Felix Renolds. As Felix Leans in with his unmistakable glare, you can sense the wisdom and intensity behind the eyes, and this has become almost commonplace with any of Dutton’s characters. As for Tony Shalhoub, he tries to deliver Larocca as a mob-like character with a mean streak and business savvy, but doesn’t quite reach the level of “villain” the film needs. Omar Epps is somewhat believable as South-paw Luthor “Lethal” Shaw, but the street thug image doesn’t sit well, and his boxing skills are adequate at best.

It’s unfortunate that the film is “inspired” by Jackie Kallen’s story. More background of where she came from, how she got there, and what motivated her would have added so much more life to the film. Maybe the “real” story may have been more interesting, and ultimately, more inspiring.