English Film Review
Johnson
Thomas
Trifling Contest
Film: Grudge Match
Rating: * * ½
A sports comedy showcasing a grudge match between Billy "The Kid" McDonnen
(De Niro) and Henry "Razor" Sharp (Stallone) , once upon a time, the two biggest bruisers in the Pittsburgh
boxing scene. The casting basically feeds on the legend of the two stars who
have played Jake La Motta and Rocky Balboa respectively and made a meal of it
too! Unfortunately, this none is no match for those classics. It’s merely
pedestrian !
Their
fierce rivalry drawing nationwide attention, "Razor" and "The
Kid" were deadlocked for victory when the former announced his retirement
just before the decisive 1983 match that would have declared the supreme
champion. Three decades later, enterprising boxing promoter Dante Slate Jr.
(Kevin Hart) lures the aging pugilists back into the ring for the fight that
everyone has been waiting for. Meanwhile, when "Razor" and "The
Kid" see each other for the first time in 30 years, the cameras are
rolling when tempers flare. In no time that unscheduled scuffle goes viral,
prompting both fighters to resume their intensive training in a bid to deliver
the knock-out blow during the highly-anticipated match.
2006's Rocky Balboa can
gross over $150 million, Red and Red 2 did marginally better, ‘Expendables’ and
‘The Last Stand’ also had a major following so getting Senior citizens into the
heat of action does make box-office sense. Unfortunately it does not make
logical sense. Grudge's attempt
to meld memorable cinematic memories into a modern match-up between ageing
pugilists does not manage much of a pull.
The
two stars play roles designed to recall the heroes of their earlier films. The
film primarily encashes on a fight between the actors who played two of the
most memorable boxers in film history, Rocky Balboa and Jake LaMotta. These
actors though , are not the same age as they were when they played those famous
pugilists. A 70-year-old LaMotta and a 67-year old Rocky, can only generate a
modicum of enthusiasm. Two old guys beating the hell out of each is not cause
for either enjoyment or great thrill. other for your enjoyment. It’s just too
exploitative an idea.
Grudge match , is at best an ego boost for it’s actors and a hit shot
of nostalgia for sports movie fans. The film tries hard to present a realistic
portrayal of the geriatric boxing but it doesn’t score high on raw
authenticity. The climactic match has
been shot well but the idea of having an eventual winner in the bout between two
perceived greats is just not tenable!
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