Review of Grudge Match (2013) by Kyle M — 27 Dec 2015

It's "Rocky" vs. "Raging Bull." Rocky Balboa vs. Jake LaMotta. These are the two famous boxers on film around the mid-70s to early-80s, and still are very well-known in the present. "Grudge Match" is the second collaboration between Stallone and De Niro after "Cop Land," taking place in the ring, returning the two old men back to the roots of their boxing characters.

The six Rocky films (and one on the way probably) may've gotten lower in ratings, but better in quality until the fifth film broke that quality. Then 16 years later, Stallone goes back to the ring for the sixth time, and the so-far final installment is the best yet by being a homage to the boxing series that'd started after the 1976 Best Picture winner. The first film was also nominated for Best Director (won), Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Original Song, Film Editing (won), and Sound Mixing.

"Raging Bull" is based on a true story, directed by Martin Scorsese. It was nominated for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Sound, and Editing. It'd won Best Actor for De Niro, and Best Editing. The film was better received by its percentage.

It seems Rocky win the awards and popularity and quality, while "Raging Bull" wins the actor and the genre. So the winner between these two is Rocky. So to settle this again is for the two boxers to fight for one last time (that's right, no more Rocky movies for Stallone to fight in), and you can see that in "Grudge Match.".

The film sets as an alternative crossover in an alternative timeline to answer a "What if" question. It centers on two rivals in boxing, retired. Until both the public and the media like to see them return to the ring once again to settle their rivalry in a rematch. "The Kid" (or Rocky in disguise, played by Stallone) reluctantly agreed to fight one last time in the ring, while "Razor" (or LaMotta in fictional disguise, played by De Niro) desperately want a rematch. But in the subplots, "The Kid" is reconnecting his previous relationship (Kim Besieger) while "Razor" is trying to reconnect with his past and family.

Throughout the two-thirds of the film, the two main actors were disappointing their boxing characters in ways and desires. Stallone look like he wasn't having any fun or just getting tired of the film and wants out like his character (both in few ways). De Niro caught Stallone's slacking performance from "Rocky II," but he only look like he was secretly having drugs. These only pop up from time to time as this is a comedy almost turning into a bit of a parody. Their original boxing characters from the past kept coming back to take over by reminding them who they were, especially taking over the final third with the same energy while the climatic match was just hard to watch due to their age. But the two actors are good as always.

Also starring the funny man Kevin Hart, who plays the son of a late promoter who used to work with the two boxers. Now he's following the man's footsteps by being their promoter with no worries about their publicity being affected in a positive way in a negative way. Hart's a good addition to the cast as he represents the present of today's boxing, while the other main cast are from and has started in the past.

Alan Arkin portrays "The Kid's" old trainer who came back as his trainee came back. It seems Arkin is trying to be like Burgess Meredith's Mickey character from the Rocky films, but only focuses on being non-serious nor inspirational, just funny with a little bit of accidental parody. (There's also a little bit of Burt Young's Paulie in his character).

"Grudge Match" is better than "Raging Bull" and "Rocky V," but no better than the other Rocky films. It's hilarious, along being clichéd of boxing elements in film. While De Niro probably wasn't planning to return to portray a boxing character, this film is Stallone's farewell as a boxing character as he's getting too old for it (but not too old to be an Expendable). He may fit as a trainer to carry on the tradition like the upcoming Rocky spin-off "Creed.".

If you've seen "Raging Bull" and the Rocky films, this is definitely worth watching. (B+).