Review of Over the Top (1987) by Stuart K — 05 Sep 2012
Between the Rocky films and the Rambo films in mid 1980's, Sylvester Stallone somehow ended up with a deal at Cannon Films (alarm bells ringing), and directed by Cannon's co-boss Menahem Golan.
This action-drama was originally intended to be more adult themed, but was toned down to be more family friendly when Sly got involved. It's sentimental and schmaltzy, with a touch of The Champ (1979) about it, but with arm wrestling.
Trucker Lincoln Hawk (Stallone) is told that his estranged wife Christina (Susan Blakely) is very ill, and she asks that Lincoln collects his estranged son Michael (David Mendenhall) from military school in Colorado.
Christina's father Jason Cutler (Robert Loggia) HATES Lincoln, and the fact he ran away from fatherhood and responsibility. Lincoln picks Michael up, and immediately tries to bond with the son he's never met, and it's going to be difficult.
Jason tries to lure Michael into living with him in wealth and comfort, while Lincoln is going to compete for the World Arm Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, where he'll compete against World Champion Bob "Bull" Hurley (Rick Zumwalt).
It's a schmaltzy, sentimental film that has some quite macho, near homo-erotic mugging with the arm wrestling. But, it was intended to show a softer side to Stallone, as if the Rocky films hadn't done that already, but it's a product of it's time, very silly and no, not all of it works, but it's OK while it lasts.
This review of Over the Top (1987) was written by Stuart K on 05 Sep 2012.
Over the Top has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
