Rarely is a movie made like, "The Champion" and for this we can be eternally grateful. Carman left the music stage for a movie that can only be described as embarrassing. I love Carman's style of music (he's one of my favorite artists), but he doesn't belong in a full-length movie.The Christian Film industry has produced B-end times flicks like "Judgment", "Tribulation", and "Revelation" which look like classics compared to this movie. As others have mentioned, Carman ripped off quite a bit from Rocky (surprised he didn't take the red, white, and blue shorts from the last few films). It also includes an implausible love story and just for kicks, the gratuitous blowing up a truck. As noted, the movie has some big problems in terms of morals. While Christians struggle to teach their kids to behave in a morally responsible manner and avoid sexual immorality, Carman makes out in the front seat of his car with a woman he just met while her son sleeps in the back.While Christians combat the destructive force of organized gambling and the lottery, Carman's character gets the youth center of his dreams because his brother bet a few million on the fight Carman won.Finally, there was the Commercial with the "Whoop@--" soda which was of poor moral taste. The film's redeeming values are found in the fact that it spurred Carman's second "Best of" collection including a new single "Heart of a Champion" which would have fit so well with the film.

This is a mediocre and predictable movie indeed, with nary a hint of inspiration or originality. There is a fleeting bit of chemistry between The Champion and female lead Paty Manterola, who takes a break from her usual spicy lesbian-latina roles to play the straight love interest here. Carman Licciardello, the star of this ill-conceived vehicle, is an evangelical media personality who tours the country with a Bible-centered song-and-dance show that mainly draws a teen female audience. He is pushing 50 and has never been married, but always travels with a fresh crew of lithe young male dancers that perform with him onstage. While his highly profitable music video projects tend to be corny, tacky and sophomoric, in this movie he shows off his buff body and tries to present a more sophisticated and masculine persona. Unfortunately he is dogged at every turn by a dull script and forgettable supporting cast, with the possible exception of Manterola. But keep your eye on the fabulous Carman, as I am sure we will hear much more about him in the future!

First, I will confess that I didn't watch the whole film. I rented "Carman" on the basis of good reviews and didn't realize it belonged in subgroup of entertainment (films, literature, music) created for Christians. Not being one myself, I was a little hesitant to watch it. A few Christian entertainers I've found to be genuinely good at their craft, so I looked to this film like I would any other, hoping it would bring forth fresh creativity to the moviedom in the form of style, substance and a good story. Unfortunately, the predictable course of the film and its canned themes were presented in such a dull manner that I eventually switched it off. Maybe I've watched too many movies. Even if I were a member of the intended audience I would have been disappointed -- any movie worth the film it's printed on should aim to transcend its intended demographic through solid structuring and presentation, indeed that's how classics are made.

Carman: The Champion is what a Christian movie should be. I would have liked to have seen the plan of salvation given at some point, but I that is no big deal. The movie is marketed for Christians, who should have heard the plan of salvation before seeing the film. The movie is free of sexuality, excessive gore, or profanity..with the exception of the one commercial that the rival boxer stars in. Why is this word in a CHRISTIAN movie!?? The product could have been called anything else in the world, why did the producers find it necessary to put this word (repeatedly) in this one small meaningless segment of the movie? That is the only major flaw I found in what was otherwise an awesome movie. Fellow believers need to support movies like this. As someone on the NearGod Productions page put it, "A revival in Hollywood will affect the entire world." Well said, go rent it!