Watch this New York Democratic congressional candidate's stirring ad about fighting the opioid epidemic

(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/Boyd Melson)

This summer's hot new movie is — a congressional candidate's campaign ad? Democrat Boyd Melson announced Tuesday that he is running for Congress in New York's 11th district with a powerful ad that bears more than a passing resemblance to a Marvel movie. The three-minute spot shows Melson's rise to becoming the world military boxing champion, his subsequent struggles with pain medications after surgery, and finally his fight against New York City's opioid epidemic in his current race for the House seat.

The ad was cut by the same team behind the campaign ad for Wisconsin Democrat Randy Bryce, who is running against Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) in a longshot bid. Melson might need the Hollywood treatment too: "The [11th] district is currently represented by Rep. Dan Donovan (R-N.Y.), who won his election in 2016 by over 25 points," Politico writes.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.