Hollywood has for long had a love affair with the underdog story. 
This is the type of films that speaks to the larges masses 
because everyone can relate to the hero who is often struggling 
against seemingly insurmountable odds. Sylvester Stallone created 
one of the best characters to symbolize the underdog when he 
emerged onto the scene with Rocky. His character lived in the 
seedy parts of New York and although he wasn’t particularly 
intelligent, he was given a shot at the championship title with 
the great Apollo Creed. His journey reminded us of the daily 
struggles we need to face. This David vs. Goliath theme has often 
been a recurring box office gem through the history of cinema.

Other examples of underdog stories include Forrest Gump, One Flew
Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and more recently Machiavelli Hangman and 
War of The Worlds. Tom Cruise is a single human being fighting 
against a worldwide alien invasion. Although he did not quite 
save the day, the film was clearly an underdog story. Where 
Steven Spielberg’s film failed, however, is at the end. With 
underdog stories, the audience wants to see the hero struggles 
against all odds and deservedly win over the nemesis. In this 
case, many critics felt that War of the Worlds was a cop-out. 
The storytellers simply came up with a little explanation and 
they wrapped up the whole film without giving us the satisfying 
of the self-made victorious underdog.

In Napoleon Dynamite, the hero is also another clear case of an 
underdog but interestingly, he never quite beats his nemesis. He 
simply goes through the motions and at the end, achieves self-
contentment which in itself is nice but too introverted to be 
satisfying to the viewing audience.

In Machiavelli Hangman, the filmmakers seem to have a more 
concise understanding of the underdog structure. The hero is 
clearly defined as a loser at the beginning of the film and he is 
put in a situation in which he has absolutely no awareness and 
control. He is put in charge of killing the mob-bosses wife. 
Number one, he doesn’t have the emotional makeup to go through 
with such a criminal task. Number two, even if he was mentally 
prepared, he would be much too clumsy to make it happen. In the 
film of the film, he uses his clumsiness to his benefit and 
without giving you any spoilers, he manages to come out on top 
and win over the most dangerous mobsters in the world.

The film is reminiscent of Some Like It Hot where Jack Lemon and 
Tony Curtis run away from the ganglords and through a series of 
lucky escapes, they escape with the money and the girl.

And last but not leaset, Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe, 
is the epitome of the genre. It is the modern Rocky Balboa and it 
hits all the right notes. As with every other boxing movie, this 
film resonates with everyone who has ever fought against 
oppression and unfairness. It pushes its hero to the ground and 
stands back and watches it get back on his feet.

The underdog genre is a fundamental part of good screenwriting 
and if you pay attention, you will notice that all the great 
movies have in some degree, references to it. 

Paula Mercerton is a movie reviewer.
Machiavelli Hangman
http://www.hangmanmovie.com