Over the Top

I watch this movie when I go to bed every night. Well, not every night, I missed one day the other week. Sure, people may think "Why is Hawk the good guy in this movie?" But I say to this person "Who are you, and why are you talking to me?" But then I tell them "this is a movie, you have to ignore the fact that Hawk abandoned his dying wife and son, for what reason you say? Well, her dad wasn't a good guy." Then you may ask "But Robert Loggia raised the kid as his own, took care of the mother and provided them a good life, Hawk just shows up and takes the kid, why would you support a deadbeat dad?" I say "Doesn't matter, he arm wrestles, you can't beat that, I win" Then we go back and forth and you bring up that he picks the kid up at the military school and 10 minutes down the road they stop at a diner that Hawk frequents and everyone knows him. Well, if he's a regular at a diner that's just a couple miles down the road from where the kid is, why couldn't he attempt to be a dad and a part of his life? To this I answer "arm wrestling". You concede this point, because of arm wrestling, and move onto the tournament at the end of the movie. Ignoring the fact that a 12-year old on his own drove to the airport, boarded a plane, flew to the tournament in Vegas and no one had the means to stop him, because all it would take is a 2 minute phone call. So at this double-elimination tournament, which is shouted continuously by the announcer so we all know Hawk will lose at least once, why is everyone who Hawk defeats automatically out of the tournament? The grizzly guy who beats him, we never see him lose again, and who could beat him anyway? He beat Hawk. One loss and he's out. The Canadien guy that loses to the Bull, seems he only lost once and he's out. The black gentleman who looks like he was cheated, lost once and he's out. Bull, only loses once, and he's out. Also, what if the arm wrestler isn't a trucker? What the heck would they do with a tractor trailer? Doesn't matter, because Hawk is a trucker, eat it guys with real jobs. In all, I would rate this movie a 12 out of 10, it shows me what's important in this life. It's not being a good husband to a dying wife who never did anything to deserve it, it's not being a good dad to a son who desperately needs it, it's about arm wrestling. The real tragedy here is that there was never a sequel.

"Over the Top" is one movie that can brighten up my friends' and my day after a tough day. It is a hilariously stupid movie filled with awkward character interactions and a script that could stink up the perfume shops in Nordstrom's (well, they smell bad enough anyway to me). We actually rent the movie and just make fun of it all the way to the ending credits, when the sheer cheese is capped by its own theme song, for goodness' sake! (It's titled "Over the Top." Surprise surprise.) Watching Sly groan and moan during his arm wrestling matches always brings smile to my face (well, it's a sneer, rather). The kid is the most annoying element of the movie. Oh yeah, and don't forget all of the supporting cast, including the REAL arm wrestling champion trucker guy (the bald guy who happened to be the best actor in the movie after all). You can't comprehend half of what Stallone says at first viewing, and one of the most hilarious part was when he was ranting and raving to a couple of goons driving away after an unsuccessful kidnapping attempt of Sly's son at a truck stop -- you just have to see it to understand what I'm saying here. Well, I guess that's just about everything I can say about this movie. It was a totally unimaginably dumb movie based on custody battle and arm wrestling (proved to be a deadly combination), and as long as you like making fun of movies and have a sense of humor, then go out and rent this movie! But please, do so with caution.

that is all what i have to say, if you don't like this movie, please retire, you don't have nothing to do in the movie world. Movies are simply not for you. This movie is one of the best Stallone's. Its touching, sentimental with a lot of action and a central subject pretty unusual and interesting. Forget arm wrestling because thats not the point of the movie, neither are the trucks. Thats only the address to the salad. The important thing is the father-son relationship and the way Sly rebuilds it. Who cares if to make money and support his son he has towin an arm wrestling championship or a micro-machine race? for gods sake! Please try to see the mean point of the plot, don't be that superficial. Anyway, arm wrestling screenplay and all related to it was simply so good, so there is no reason to not enjoy this movie, and i don't neet to mention the amazingly good soundtrack. Rates for this movie should be reset and started from 0 again, after some people re-see this movie and reflect I'm sure it would get a much higher score.

This movie was one the many good movies that came out in that period, i want to mention Twins(88) and The Secret to my success(87)in that concern. Over the top gives the same quality entertainment. Sylvester Stallone stars and gives a great performance as the man who just wants to get closer to his son. David Mendenhall stars as well, he plays the son and gives a fine performance, the kid was beautiful to watch. The film also have outstanding music which warmed my heart. All in All this was an entertaining film which made my day.

Another reviewer said this about "Over The Top", its impossible not to like it. Unfortunately that's not true because even Sylvester Stallone has expressed his disappointment in this film, however I agree with that reviewer!! For me, personally, there is nothing but fun and good memories watching Over The Top. When I was in my early teens discovering Stallone for the first time (he's an icon to me now) this was one of the movies I discovered and fell in love with. It's cheesy and melodramatic and silly and so chock full of 80's Goodness that it seeps with everything I love about a great 80's film. Its also fun and sweet with a good story, great characters and good action (albeit sometimes misplaced action scenes.) I suppose I am simply biased in reviewing this because it is one of those movies from my childhood that I just can't say anything bad about. Stallone being who he is, its inevitable that they would have to put some sort of action scenes in place. Something about him driving his enormous transport through the front gate of his rich father-in-law's mansion and tossing a guy through a plate glass window doesn't exactly fit in with the feel of the film and yet it works because he's Stallone. Inevitable comparisons to Rocky are warranted as this is a terrific underdog story which Stallone is perfect for. Sylvester Stallone is a love him or hate him kind of actor. I love him! His charisma is undeniable and his quiet determined but fallible Lincoln Hawk is a great character. He is far from perfect but trying to make amends and has this solid determination that is endearing. David Mendenhall is just nearly the perfect 80's kid. He is spoiled and bratty but you root for him to come around and connect with his father. His acting ability isn't perfect but for this type of movie he fits it so well. The chemistry between him and Stallone is surprisingly spot on. I would consider Robert Loggia a terrific character actor. He has been in some phenomenal and classic films. He is perfect in this movie as the overbearing and demanding rich Grandfather. He is the perfect adversary for Hawk and the only problem is there isn't enough of him. He's actually underused in many ways. Rick Zumwalt is the brutish, muscle bound arm wrestling champion. He is okay but he really is just the muscle that Stallone has to beat without any real character behind him. He's like a wrestler and he's there to look menacing and larger than life and he does that well. Menahem Golan churned out movies like few other directors. He is like the king of B-Action flicks. You would probably not even recognize any of them. Still he clearly knows the cookie cutter recipe for making an 80's flick. He knew his demographic and he knew who he was working with (rumour has it that he just kept offering Stallone more and more money until he said yes) and he doesn't pretend that Over The Top is anything more than it is. Its not pretentious and doesn't try to shove the story down your throat. It is a simple, fun, sweet movie that is ultimately very uplifted. And the soundtrack...is there literally another 80's movie that just reeks of 80's music like this one? Its all original music for the film and it is literally quintessential 80's. Meet Me Halfway by Kenny Loggins has gotta be one of the greatest 80's theme songs in the world and it nearly chokes me up every time I hear it. It is absolutely true that this film is overly sentimental to me so I am probably reviewing it better than what it might actually be to most. But I simply can't deny the sweet and fun quality of the film. I recommend it to everyone, especially Stallone fans because it has so much heart. Plenty of action and the arm wrestling just makes it even more fun. You can't go in expecting an Oscar worthy classic but just sit back and enjoy because it is simply fun. 9/10

Are you kidding me? Sylvester Stallone in an arm-wrestling movie? Does it get any better than that? If your balls have not turned into steel after seeing this movie, you're either a woman or... that is the only explanation. Acting? Plot? Cinematography? Who cares? Enjoy 90 minutes of pure testosterone and corniness. "Over the top" is without a doubt the most fitting movie title ever. If you enjoy either movies from the 80s, anything that's over the top or just Sylvester Stallone's weird acting and awkward yet somehow touching speeches, than you're gonna have a great time watching this movie. However, if you're not a fan of said things, than you should probably stay away from this masterpiece.

Good choice of work for Sly - a trucker. Something 'masculine', on the move. He wrangles with his father-in-law for custody of his son, who thought his dad (Sly) disowned him. To the contrary, grandfather didn't want the boy associating with Sly because he was'nt 'of money' like grandfather was. When Sly's former wife dies of cancer, (Susan Blakely again), Sly sees it as a 'sign' to take his responsibility seriously & raise his son the only way he knows how - take him on the road with him, teach him not to be a spoiled brat all his life, live a little! At first, his son rejects him totally. But later on when he finds out the truth about his dad, he decides he WANTS to be with him. Yes, the veritable 'macho-sport of arm-wrestling' is thrown in as a way to win big money quick & show-off Sly's ever-bulging muscles. But hey! What's a Sly-film without muscles?? See this one for family entertainment. Sly might be a bit 'wooden' with some of his lines, but the action scenes are typically Sly!

This is a wonderful film about a father and son relationship, that's quite emotional and very moving, with an awesome story and an amazing performance from Stallone!. All the characters are fantastic, and the ending was just awesome!, plus Stallone is simply amazing in this!. This has to be one of the most underrated movies ever, and i can't believe it only has a 4. 1 rating, as it should be way higher!, plus i thought Stallone's acting was fantastic!. Stallone and David Mendenhall had wonderful chemistry together, and it has quite a few tear jerker moments!, plus the scene where Stallone drive his truck right into the Manson was awesome!, and i thought the arm wrestling sequences were very exciting!, plus it's quite funny at times as well!. The opening is rather tense, and made me feel a bit uncomfortable (but in a a good way), and the scene where Stallone is teaching his son Michael to drive his big truck, was just awesome!, plus it's really awesome on how they bonded so quickly!. This is a wonderful film about a father and son relationship that's quite emotional and very moving with an amazing performance from Stallone!, and i say Go see it now!. The Direction is fantastic!. Menahem Golan does a fantastic job here with awesome camera work, great angles, and keeping the film full of surprises and at an extremely fast pace!. The Acting is amazing!. Sylvester Stallone is AMAZING as always, and is amazing here, he is incredibly likable, witty had wonderful chemistry with David Mendenhall, is intense at times, did excellent in his emotional scenes, and showed a ton determination to keep his son i loved that!, and this is one of his best performances!, and as always, had tons of charisma! (Stallone Rules!!!!!!!). David Mendenhall is fantastic as the Son!, he was a little annoying at 1st but i totally understood why, as he was really likable, and very energetic throughout!, he also had a special bond and wonderful chemistry with Stallone!, where he is now?, he was awesome!. Robert Loggia does what he has to do extremely well as the prick of a Grandfather, i hated him, he is a wonderful actor!. Susan Blakely is decent with what she had to do, i rather liked her. Rick Zumwalt is not an actor he just grunts his way and looks tough throughout!. Rest of the cast do fine. Overall Go see it now!, it's one of the most underrated films out there!. ***** out of 5

Over the Top is pure Sylvester Stallone: the blue collar man with the heart of gold fighting his way through a world that dismisses him as a loser but he wins at the end with the help of someone who really understands and loves him. Same as the Rocky series, same as the Rambo series. But I can't help it, I really like Sly. He certainly is no Shakespeare actor but there is that deep honesty he represents in all his flicks and it works. When he first walks into that military school building to fetch his son after cleaning his truck and trying to make himself look his "Sunday best" - I can't help it: it is just great. Yes it is strange to see a well educated kid (by a military school) being transformed into a "regular guy" by his own father. But in this film that is only a metaphor. The real meaning is: it's the heart that counts, not the social position. Now that's a message which can't be dismissed as junk that easily. I love the portraits and short interviews of the arm wrestling contestants. Brilliant. Probably the best scene is when the (always wonderful) Robert Loggia finally accepts the fact that his grandson loves his dad. The "villain" hasn't been beaten. No even better: he has been convinced and transformed. Over the Top works on two levels: as popcorn entertainment: "Blue collar hero beats the odds" and as good old fashioned, almost Frank Capra- like cinema: "good will always win in the end". Bottom line: as with many a Sly flick (any film Sylvester Stallone agrees to participate in or where he actually did the writing, directing etc.)we have to work our way through a popcorn flick to find a deeper meaning. And I say it is there in Over the Top hitting it dead center. So I'm a Sylvester Stallone fan. Now call me names, I can take it.

It's hard to dislike Over The Top. Sure, it can get corny, old-fashioned, far-fetched (the gate-crashing scene, fun and unbelievable.) The movie sorta plays like a cross between Highway to Heaven and THe A-Team. But somehow, you find yourself watching despite whatever 'good judgment' you think you might have regarding the cinema. You get swept up in the film's good vibes. You care about what happens to Hawke and his son. Most of the credit for this has to go to Sylvester Stallone. He plays the part of a truck driver coping with the new experience of getting to know his twelve-year-old son for the first time quite well. You care because you sense how much HE cares. it is conveyed by a sure delivery from Stallone. His character never seems too slight or well, too Over the top. There is a bond that slowly forms between him and his son. And the movie has a great "training" montage complete with great song that will remind you of what was so good about the Rocky films. David Mendenhall agreeably plays the part of Mike with the combination of distrust, arrogance and vulnerability you would expect from someone his age who went thru what he did.. No, he's not Haley Joel Osmont. We won't leave the movie shaking our heads at his incredible,precocious talent. That doesn't mean he didn't acquit himself nicely in the film. Robert Loggia's role could have been fleshed out a little more. He seems to much like a comic-strip villain. The film could have delved more into his reasons for hating Hawke. that part could have been beefed up a bit. I enjoyed the Arm-wrestling backdrop. It was a refreshing change for movies of that era that boasted big stars like Stallone. Usually, movies that were sport-specific other than the trad football, baseball, or boxing stories tended to use people who were less known (Gotcha, Gleaning the Cube) A good film. warm, funny, exciting. The better face of the Eighties cinema.