A washed up, alcoholic fighter (Wallace Beery) starts his comeback bid south of the border in Tijuana with his doting son (Jackie Cooper) in tow. When the boy's mother (Irene) convinces him that the boy would be better off in her care, the two struggle with their separation as the pugilist gears towards his final bout in the ring. "The Champ" is an overly sentimental tale whose sappiness is overcome by the earnestness and likability of its stars. Beery, in his Oscar winning role, shows what made him such an endearing star in the early talkie period and makes one wonder why he has become so forgotten over the years. I also found Jackie Cooper to be appealing, and a latter reteaming of the two in "Treasure Island" is also fun. Although too many soapy moments threaten to dismantle this movie, the charm and charisma of its stars make it a winner.
