In the near future, down-on-his luck ex-boxer Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) makes a living from wrangling giant robots in loser bouts and town fun-fair match-ups with the local bull. His carefree days are ended when he takes custody of his estranged 11-year-old son Max, who proves more than a match for his dad in the wisecracking stakes.

Any darker exploration of humanity desensitised by technology in a screenplay based on the Richard Matheson short story ‘Steel’ is soon abandoned when father and son start sparring. After Max’s pet robot is given a shot at the world title and proves more of a role model as a father figure than Charile, it’s Rocky meets The Champ.