Review of Grudge Match (2013) by Danny R — 28 Dec 2013

Peter Segal's high-concept comedy about two retired boxers who hate each other and have a long standing rivalry is a truly enjoyable and funny motion picture. It stars two of America's most iconic actors, who are both famous for playing boxers on the sliver screen.

Robert De Niro who won a Best Actor Oscar for his career best performance as middleweight champion Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's classic "Raging Bull," and Sylvester Stallone who's breakout Oscar nominated performance as underdog boxer Rocky Balboa in John G.

Avildsen's classic Academy Award winning best picture "Rocky" made him a cinematic superstar. De Niro plays Billy 'The Kid' McDonnen and Stallone plays Henry 'Razor' Sharp who each provided the other's sole defeat some 30 years ago in the ring, with Stallone's character 'Razor' winning the last match.

They never fought a third rematch because De Niro's character 'The Kid' slept with Razor's women Sally, well played by Kim Basinger. Now because of an accidental head butt during the making of a video game version of their famous fight, which ends up going viral, and sets off a media frenzy, the two enemies agree to step into the ring one more time to settle the score once and for all.

De Niro and Stallone are both game, and deliver marvelous performances, they are also in amazing shape for their ages, De Niro is 70 and Stallone is 67. Astute direction by Peter Segal who honors these two legendary actors by getting them to preform with such committed enthusiasm which makes this comedy work, and turns it into a winner.

The film also benefits from the two wonderfully funny supporting performances from Alan Arkin as The Kid's manager Louis 'Lighting' Conlon, and Comedian Kevin Hart's fast-talking promoter Dante Slate Jr.

. This is by no means a great film, but it is a good and amusing comedy, that will not disappoint because of De Niro and Stallone's persuasive performances. Recommended.