In the new sports comedy movie, Grudge Match, staring Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone as aging boxers who step back into the ring for one last bout 30 years after their last match. Directed by Peter Segal (Get Smart, 50 First Dates), takes these two acting icons that previously have had successful boxing films, and pokes fun at their success with those movies with respect and humor. What could have been a mess of a movie ended up being a fun movie that fathers and sons can enjoy.
There is something admirable about actors who decide to return to their glory days, understanding why their pervious accomplishments hold so much appeal. Putting the stars of two of the most acclaimed boxing films together in one movie, just seem right. While those movies are two different animals all together in tone and ideas, Rocky and Raging Bull, Grudge Match isn’t trying to be those, but rather a light-hearted movie with emphasis on comedy and melodrama. The movie is one that succeeds in being fun and full of humor, even if it does have its moments of being overly sentimental.
De Niro and Stallone work well together as two old adversaries who can’t stand each other. Thus, let the old jokes begin. They go back and forth at each other so well; you could almost see them about to break into laughter. They were clearly having fun on the set and each both knew what they were making. This isn’t a high art piece where were studying the human experience, its just a fun movie with two old dudes beating the crap outta of each other. And what’s not to love about that? Stallone was hesitate to come on board the project, due to not having much success with comedy, but after seeing how it was more of “laughing with” than a “laughing at” he joined up. Which is good, because without him this movie doesn’t work.
The movie has some great supporting actors in very funny and important roles that help our two aging fighters. Alan Arkin as Stallone old trainer, who basically steals every scene he’s in. From rude one-liners, making funny faces in the background or just being a cranky old guy. Seamlessly moving into the “old guy/grandpa” roles with major successes. He’s such a talented guy he could pretty much do anything and here he get to shine working quite well off Stallone straight man shtick. One of the best parts of the movie is watching these two dudes just talk.
Kevin Hart plays the guys’ promoter who puts on the fight. He basically plays Kevin Hart, funny and loud mouthed. His character gets all the things he wants, but he’s just there to move the movie forward and not make too many waves, which he does fine. Jon Bernthal as De Niro’s trainer/son, who acts great with De Niro, but they have little to no chemistry as father and son other than you can see they resemble each other a tad. And last but not least in anyway, with a nice welcome back to acting is Kim Basinger as the woman between Stallone and De Niro. She has a past that affects them both and she now has a chance to fix mistakes that were made 30 years ago. Basinger turns in a really good performance for such a small but important role, was nice to her see back in a movie showing off a little comedy. Everyone turns in fine performances and all knew exactly what kind of movie this was, a fun comedy where nothing needs to be taken to seriously.
There are moments of melodrama that might weigh down the movie at certain points, but there over so fast that you don’t really mind. Each character is down on the luck in some way, weather it be Stallone losing his job or De Niro just so full or pride it keeps him alone. Every predictable outcome happens for all the characters, you don’t leave the theater with an “I wonder feeling”. More or less everybody gets what he or she wanted and sometimes a good old fashion happy ending is just what some movies need.
The movie is very self aware of the boxing jokes they’re making towards De Niro and Stallone, even to go as far if you blink you might miss them, but other jokes are right on the nose that you can enjoy them for what they were in the moment. There are more than a few scenes that humorously call back some of Rocky’s most famous moments: meat locker punching, tons of work out montages and even some nods to both guys’ other iconic work. This is movie, all be it comedy, but has some smart people behind it making some rather genius inside jokes for fans of the actors.
Over all this is a fun comedy that a whole family can enjoy, but a really good flick for fathers and sons to see this holiday season. In the sea of dramas trying to get that Oscar nod this movie could be misses, do yourself a favor and try to see it. It’ll give ya a good feeling all around and at this time of the year that worth it’s weight in gold.