Grudge Match

That’s the way it goes when an impossible dream comes true for you that you wouldn’t even dare mention for twenty years. Let alone watch it, the way I did when I went to the cinema a few days ago. And the result was everything that I had expected and hoped for. The Raging Bull meets Rocky in the ring and it all led to an absolutely amazing comedy with everything that entails. Who would have expected these two old sports would ever get together? And it couldn’t have been any clearer the movie would end up being a comedy. And if anybody thought otherwise, they should have their butt spanked by Robert de Niro. Once Robert de Niro stepped into the ring to face Sly, it was clear who would win. I mean characters are characters, but a movie is a movie and I have to say the authors did a terrific job. They turned the movie into exactly what it was supposed to become. A time-weathered story of a life that is worth telling, even several times in a lifetime. This was a dream come true. Who would have thought these two legends would be together in a movie… and meet in a boxing ring? Only a madman, that’s who. In my opinion, this movie must make every movie buff jump for joy. And by the way, Alan Arkin did something here that I will never forget. So many great lines for a single character? I haven’t seen that in a long time. Great job! (05.01.2014)

Rocky vs. LaMotta punching each other in the face in a fairly decent comedy about family and the sporting life. The whole movie languishes in a pleasant old-school odor and Sly and De Niro poke fun at themselves and their famous roles. The supporting roles are very well cast, the most pleasant of whom were the son Jon Bernthal and the grampa, Alan Arkin. If only it wasn’t for that loudmouthed, dumb-ass Kevin Hart... I don’t have a TV. It makes you stupid. (01.04.2014)

Kevin Hart as a chatty black sidekick is more unbearable than any other chatty black sidekick before him. But if you set him aside, Grudge Match is a clichéd but funny, well-balanced feel-good chill-out movie, which you might find even touching in places. And that’s all I remember from it, so two weeks after my initial evaluation I’m decreasing my rating from four to a strong three stars. (16.01.2014)

So, let's talk about it, it's not very original, but at least the movie tries to come up with some new ideas that will make this spectacle of old men more enjoyable. Two eternal rivals who are supposed to face each other in the ring after thirty years. They hate each other, which is the source of most of the jokes. Alan Arkin takes care of most of the best ones, but Sly and De Niro are not far behind. These characters are quite predictable, but I can't help it, I liked the movie. It's clear how it will end, but with these actors and in this performance, I can handle it. Perhaps just shorten the running time a bit. (01.01.2014)

Smart, cunning, witty, that was the only way to endure this thing in good health. Because when the two biggest stars undress in the ring, with cuts and action scenes, it's already significantly weaker. However, both Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone are in excellent condition and, as expected, the dialogue sequences are much more entertaining and captivating than the boxing ones, which are only here to underscore the pattern of the story. It is spontaneous and often very funny, without unnecessary tears, sentiment, or annoying reminiscences. (12.01.2014)