Review of Over the Top (1987) by Brad S — 13 Nov 2011

Really shows how divorce and single parenting can alter the make up of a child and place expectations on a father that otherwise would be completely unrealistic. But then again they don't call him the Italian Stallion for nothing? Or do they? This movie really set up the premise for Rocky 5 because you have a father contemplating how to show his love for his estranged son while Rocky 5 is the same but only it is the son contemplating his love for his famous father.

The movie itself definely ranks in Sly's top 3 but then again all his movies are basically the same with this movie replacing boxing with arm wresling, Adrian with his son, and Apollo Creed with the great Rick Zumwalt who performance was greatly overlooked by the BAFTA Awards.

Over the top does shadow various themes of the 80's such as the vast amount of materialism and the lingering effects of Reaganomics. How are these themes shown? Well the reaganomics is shown in hawk in that he is a trunk driver but still must compete in arm wrestling tournaments to make ends meet really shows how the job market folded in the 80's and materialism represented by the grandfather and his constant need to belittle Hawk and demostrate his lower class status.

Something that Michael eventually accepts by the symbol of wearing his fathers hat a motif that runs rampit thourgh out the movie and is solidfied with the most famous line of the movie, "I dont know it's like a switch, I just turn my hat backwards" Also, Hawk echos some of the materialistic ideals to this son with quotes such as "Being number one is everything.

There is no second place. Second sucks." Really personifying the greed of the 1980's along with other great 80's movies such as WAll Street and Risky Business. All in all, Over the Top makes for a fine date movie if you can ignore the various political themes and hot topic issues like divorce and single parenting.

You may really want to choke up a bit with the shocking twist of the mother's outcome and the lesson learned about how violence can overcome anything love, loss of a trunk, and yes, even reaganomics.

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