Grudge Match

It had a few creative scenarios at first, but got boring real fast. Are we supposed to buy De Nero as a tough guy? Stallone definitely is still one, but De Nero never was, especially now at age 200. It was cool seeing Joey Diaz (who could kick De Niro's ass anytime) and Kevin Hart had a few funny lines, in between the most generic, overused "white people this and that" comments. But overall it was a 2 hour slog fest that goes nowhere for most of that long time. There's so much boring filler and low tier romantic drama... Boxing fans might find some value in this but comedy fans and general movie watchers - don't expect much.

The way that Stallone has been pulling Rambo out of the grave in a series of CGI-enhanced "Expendables" I really expected "Grudge Match" to add another layer of plastic surgery to the Stallone corpse. But instead, I got an over-the-hill "buddies" movie with a decent plot, some terrific acting and an ending that brings back some of my favourite memories from "Raging Bull" and most of the "Rocky" series. Being 'of the age' and still competing in a physical sport against other fellas past their best-before date, I get the movie combatants' desire for one more time, one more season, swapping sweat with the same guys I did a lifetime ago. So I'm glad they made it, and I'm glad I watched it. Well done. Now where did I put my jockstrap and truss...

Although this works as a concept, having two old boxers who hate each other have one last match, it just keeps on making wish that I could have seen a movie where Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone had made this movie when they were both in their prime, cause that would have been explosive. As for the movie we do have, it is not a terrible comedy, but it is far from great. The main bright spots are the interactions between Kevin Hart and Alan Arkin, who keep yipping at each other and basically steal the show. But other then that it is a by the numbers predictable comedy with repetitive jokes and a bland outcome 2.5 Beards Out Of 5.

I was very much looking forward to seeing this movie. It was billed as a comedy, it was about boxing and has Stallone and De Niro in it. Essentially my dream movie. I was expecting an Expendable 2 type, self deprecating, funny movie with some good boxing action thrown in. But I was very disappointed. The jokes, well the ones you haven't already seen in the trailer, aren't funny which was surprising for a story line that was so absurd. They could have done a lot more funny self-deprecating jokes. The story was very simple, I mean there we zero surprises in the story. The characters were empty, by the time the fight came you really didn't care about them, or the fight. The best part of the movie was the Tyson & Holyfield cameo at the end. Which was 10 seconds long. I was happy when this movie was over. Very disappointing. If this didn't have Stallone and De Niro I think it would have gone straight to video.

I like both of these actors; they seldom, if ever, appear in films together. DiNero as an Irishman is a bit of stretch as a character, but he is a consummate actor, so he can get away with it. Stallone does his Rocky, and DiNero does his LaMotta; nobody watching will remember the name of either's character from this film three days from when they see it. I will just remember Rocky and Lamotta, or Stallone and DiNero. The film was better than I had hoped. It could have been terrible six different ways, but the writer and director kept the decent storyline in tact. Stallone was still Rocky with another name, and DiNero was still Lamotta with another name. In a real fight, I believe Stallone would rock DiNero in just a few minutes.

Funny genuine tough, and sweet. I am still surprised myself, and I watched it. This is a really nice movie, at first it is really just Grumpier Old Men on the PX90, with way too much improv. Then suddenly we get more characters involved in the story, and it becomes genuine, and no longer just a joke. Kim Basinger looks great, and really polarizes the Stallone side. Jon Bernthal and the Grandson really pull the Robert De Niro side of things into shape. Once you have all of these new players this turns into a really good movie that only gets warmer, and more full of heart the harder the punches get thrown. I really enjoyed this movie in the end, I was really not enjoying it at all in the first 15 minutes or so. I would recommend this one to anyone, just gotta get bast the bad little attempts at Improv, then you get a movie, that might make your eyes water just a bit. Oh, and do stay for the credits. There are some little surprises in there.

"Grudge Match" is a top-notch entertainment. When I saw this movie in the theater (Westbury,NY) and I thought it was great. I went to work the next day to spread the word and nobody cared. What a shape. "Grudge Match" is a very funny and very human movie. It has a great story and tells it well. It's cast is great and they all give terrific performances. "Grudge Match" is a fun movie with just the right touch of emotion. If my dad was still around, he would have enjoyed this movie (my mom too).

Here's a good natured comedy. The premise of a grudge match for the AARP title allows for a lot of predictable jokes and this movie delivers. De Niro shows why he is among the best actors around. Stallone shows why he is best playing the Rocky like role he created. Alan Arkin is Arkin like and it.is good to see Kim Bassinger again. The plot is on the thin side but the idea is high concept with the two stars and they carry the movie. There are plenty of jokes and most of them work. Don't split too fast after a split decision. There are a couple of fun added scenes during the credits that should not be missed. If you are looking for serious cinema this isn't it. If you are looking for a fun popcorn movie, see it.

Reuniting the two on screen legendary boxers, Ricky Balboa and Jake LaMotta, in a comedy filled with self derision, that was an interesting idea on paper. But Peter Seagal remained very, very conventional and ultimately delivers a very schmaltzy movie that didn't manage to fully exploit the potential of its comical resources. The scenario is terribly unsurprising from start to finish and apart from a few touches of humour here and there, nothing stands out from this rather vapid story that relies on cringe-worthy clichés like the love story between Sally and Razor. Even the lukewarm, underexploited cast struggles to stay afloat in this deplorably banal movie.

Continuing my plan to watch every Sly movie in order, I come to Grudge Match. Plot In A Paragraph: A pair of aging boxing rivals are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout. 30 years after their last match. Not funny enough to be a comedy, and not dramatic enough to be drama, it falls somewhere in between. Sly and De Niro both have a twinkle in their eyes, and there is certainly a certain charm to the movie. But at times it just feels flat, and Kim Basinger lacks any real chemistry with the two leads. Alan Arkin has some good lines, and Kevin Hart puts in his usual enthusiastic performance. Jon Bernthal (who I enjoyed in The Walking Dead) is fine too!! Grossing $29 million domestically, Grudge Match ended up as the 92nd highest grossing movie of the year.