Review of Grudge Match (2013) by Adam G — 16 Jan 2015

Stallone and De Niro, late in their careers, are generally cast more for who they are than what they can do. A lot of times that Means De Niro plays some ambiguous role that ties him to mob movies and Stallone is, of course, a heavy hitting action hero. Grudge Match looked like Hollywood's latest attempt to cash in on old familiar names, Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Alan Arkin, Kim Basinger, and pepper in some new names that are currently 'in' to attract younger viewers. Kevin Hart, LL Cool J (is he young or old?), and Jon Bernthal.

Advertised as The Raging Bull meets the Italian Stallion, or some variation with the same intent, isn't exactly fair. These older actors aren't reprising their monumental roles as boxers in the past. De Niro is Billy 'The Kid' McDonnen and Stallone is Henry 'Razor' Sharp. Or should I say, was? Three decades before the movie takes place the two fighters at a massive rivalry in the ring and outside of it. Having each won a major fight for World Champ the two set a Grudge Match. After some personal events Razor decided he was done with professional boxing and retired before he got back in the ring the The Kid again. Razor's money dried up and he started working at a shipyard again. De Niro did a bit better with a car dealership and restaurant but thirty years later both men could certainly use a big pay day. Dante Slate Jr (Kevin Hart) is a nobody. His father, Dante Slate Sr (Anthony Bean) was someone. He was a promoter. Trying to follow in his father's footsteps Hart sees opportunity in the two aged fighters and sets up a Grudge Match thirty years in the making.

The movie walks the fine line of knowing that the subject matter is slightly unbelievable, it addresses the issues the audience would have with the same thing. The subject of Razor and The Kid's age comes up constantly. The jokes get a little tiresome but the story handles the issue well. The recreations of the rivals, the old fight footage, and the aging down of the actors is done impeccably well. Kevin Hart's presence is kept to a minimum so his shtick doesn't wear on the audience. He is more the catalyst for the humor than the comic relief. The entire supporting cast delivers performances convincing enough to carry the story on and tame enough to keep the movie from becoming campy, and stupid like De Niro's third round in the 'Meet the Parents' franchise. The only times the movie stepped too far into stupidity was when it came to The Kid's grandson.

The thing that really made Grudge Match better than it probably should have been was the heart of it. The relationships between the characters are handled with care. While, a bit obvious, the character arcs are solid. De Niro learns he has a son, and grandson. The relationship takes the typical course from estranged, to friendly, to broken, to family. Razor rekindles with old flame Sally (Kim Basinger). The best relationship in the film, doesn't take the obvious path and that is the ony between the two major stars. That arc is fantastically handled and refreshingly resolved.

Grudge Match isn't going to win any awards. It isn't a boxing movie like Rocky or Raging Bull. It isn't De Niro or Stallones best work, not even the best this late in their career. What Grudge Match is, is a fun, light, fine attempt at giving two Hollywood icons something to do they aren't generally known for. More importantly it shows that while it isn't one of the largest movies either of the men have been in, there is still plenty of entertainment to be had from two actors who have been entertaining audiences for decades.