Making Robert DeNiro’s famous weight loss and gain (60 pounds both ways) for his starring role in the 1980 classic boxing tale ‘Raging Bull’ pale in comparison, newcomer Tim Realbuto lost an incredible 154 pounds over the course of one calendar year while starring in and co-writing his feature film ‘Bobcat Moretti’, a heartfelt, earnest attempt (also a tale of boxing life) to depict the one element of the human condition that keeps our hearts ticking: hope.

Set in modern-day Los Angeles, Mr. Realbuto’s character is faced with a myriad of problems–obesity, multiple sclerosis, the loss of his child in a most heinous fashion, the recent passing of his mother, and a standard sibling rivalry with his brother thrown in for good measure. It is quite a hill to climb, and his character Bobby Moretti sets out literally and figuratively to climb this hill and to make things right in every direction, with mixed results.

Some scenes–like the brief one between he and his murderous ex-wife–are so chillingly raw and real they are unbearable to watch. Other scenes–where Moretti takes up boxing and somehow lands a match between he and the local boxing champ–defy credibility to the point of being borderline slapstick comedy…not the director’s intention.

Director Rob Margolies lets the dialogue and the actors and actresses do the work, and his camera is a mere footnote to the action, a wise, prudent choice. Viveca Fox shines as the 21st century version of Burgess Meredith urging on Stallone in ‘Rocky’, and despite the obvious woke implications (at least half the gym is filled with women), is highly effective and believable in her role as the tough drill sergeant with a heart of gold, trying to help Moretti make a U-Turn with his life.

‘Bobcat Moretti’ suffers from a novice writer’s attempt to throw the kitchen sink in the work, and Say As Much As Possible. Alas, this is not possible. Still, the message of the film is a simple but elegant one–Do Not Give Up, No Matter What. 

Given the garbage that passes for art these days, it is a message that is hard to complain about.