while it indulges in every cliche imaginable, the movie's scrappy, growly charm holds the attention; the actors are adept at creating engaging characters even if the script is more interested in the superficial plot points and muscled torsos
"American Fighter" is hardly as polished as the Hollywood counterparts that it clearly looks up to, but it is a sports drama that wears its heart on its sleeve and has a lead hero that's sweet-natured and very easy to root for
