Movies News Talk
Now let's discuss Grudge Match, a comedy starring Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro. "Whoa, that's a weird combo," you might be thinking. And indeed it is. But hear me out, here. This film really pays off a movie dream that has been simmering for thirty-three years!
Thus, the plot centers on two elderly boxers: Billy "The Kid" McDonnen (De Niro) and Henry "Razor" Sharp (Stallone). Back then, these men were rivals who competed couple of times head-to-head. Every man won one fight, thus they were rather evenly matched.
Now fast forward to the present; these men are elderly. Razor simply wants to retire; Kid still wants a rematch. Then things spiral out of control. Razor is broke, and Kid remains egotistical as always. They get into a fight after ending up performing motion capture for a video game. Try to guess what? A promoter called Dante Slate Jr. (played by Kevin Hart) chooses to host a rematch as the fight goes popular. It's called Grudge Match!
Grudge Match's entire concept is a bit ridiculous, but the real-world elements make it rather amazing. Among the most recognizable boxers in film history are Stallone and De Niro. De Niro was in Raging Bull; Stallone starred in the Rocky movies. They are essentially fables!
Published by Stallone personally, Rocky was a huge hit back in 1976. It made a ton of money, started Stallone's career, and even produced a lot of spin-offs and sequelues. It constituted a real cultural phenomenon.
But then Raging Bull arrived in 1980. Under direction of Martin Scorsese, this film featured real-life boxer Jake LaMotta. Though it wasn't as popular as Rocky, it still won two Oscars and is today regarded as among the best sports movies ever. Rocky and Raging Bull both capture boxing's drama and fervor.
If you enjoy Stallone, De Niro, and boxing films, even though Grudge Match received mixed reviews it's still worth seeing. Indeed, the story is a bit formulaic, but it's interesting to see these two icons engaged. The film most definitely plays on the legacy of Raging Bull and Rocky. Razor, for instance, is the underdog fighting for money; Kid is crippled by his own pride. Though it's a quite simple formula, it works!
Though it's not their best, Grudge Match is their most recent film together. That honor resides in Cop Land, a 1997 crime drama. De Niro plays a crooked cop while Stallone depicts a sheriff in a small town in that film. Certainly among Stallone's most underappreciated films, this is a dark and suspenseful one.
Grudge Match might thus be worth seeing if you're seeking a lighthearted, fun comedy with some boxing action. But see Cop Land to see these two icons at their best.