Rocky vs Jake La Motta. I know what you’re thinking. Two of the most iconic boxing characters ever to hit the big screen (arguably Rocky is more iconic). It sounds awesome doesn’t it? It’d be like if Darth Vader turned up on the deck of the Enterprise and forced choked Kirk. Thankfully, Grudge Match hasn’t turned into the big cheese festival, that one might have imagined it had the potential to. However, you can’t help but think that’s Rocky in the ring.
Starring Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro, two retired boxers who, after beating each other back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, are convinced to do one final….Grudge Match.
Grudge Match is a big surprise. A major surprise in fact. Expendables aside, Stallone hasn’t made a good movie for years and with very little exceptions in the last decade (at least) Robert De Niro hasn’t broken a sweat. Safe to say he breaks a sweat here. Its also safe to say that this is the best movie De Niro and Stallone have both made in the last 15 years. There is a serious amount of hard work and dedication on show here, with both actors getting into tremendous shape and Its nigh on impossible to believe that both these guys are in their early 70s. When they eventually get in the ring, its incredible. Its obvious to see Stallone’s wealth of experience come into play here, after years of Rocky movies. And it shows brilliantly in the finale with superb fight choreography, where both actors are really give it their all. And the intensity is ramped up with some frantic camera work and very tight editing, resulting in a knockout pace.
Stallone and De Niro really worked at this, besides the physical endurance that they both had to endure their performances are full of conviction. And while De Niro’s character is a bit of an asshole in places, you can’t help but like him. Not once do they ever slip out of character in any capacity, their performances are so convincing. The hatred they exude for each other is completely believable too and most of the time, its downright hilarious as each of them take various digs at the other. At every event the guys attend to promote the fight, they find themselves in all sorts of bother, attacking each other verbally and physically and all with hilarious consequences. They are a genuine joy to watch.
The supporting cast are also equally on top form here. Especially Kevin Hart. Hart plays the fight promoter and the ageist contempt he has for his two star boxers is hysterical. And that’s even before you factor Alan Arkin into the equation. Arkin has genuinely some of the greatest lines in the movie and much of those are bounced right off Hart who comes back with an equally great line. Kim Basinger, while under used, shows she still has it and is, like everybody else, very watchable.
Unfortunately though, its Basinger’s side of the story, combined with her son (played brilliantly by the Walking Deads Jon Bernthal) is the weakest part of Grudge Match. While it’s not badly done or anything, it just only serves to add extra minutes on the running time and it’s a bit unnecessary. The more it goes on, you do warm to the secondary plot, but it does get predictable quite quick.
Side story issues aside, Grudge Match is a fantastic night at the cinema and is enjoyable from beginning to end. And speaking of the end, make sure to stick around for the credits as it has one of the greatest cameos you are ever likely to see! This is one movie thats definitely worth going the distance for!
