MOVIE REVIEW: GRUDGE MATCH (2013)
Written by Anthony Sargon
Ever wonder who’d win in a fight between Rocky Balboa and Jake LaMotta? Well, with “Grudge Match” here, we could be getting an answer to that question. But does the movie do enough to stand out in what is shaping up to be an extremely crowded holiday session? Almost.
Henry “Razor” Sharp (Sylvester Stallone) and Billy “The Kid” McDonnen (Robert De Niro) haven’t fought in 30 years. They’ve both been holding a grudge against one another for that entire time, but they’re never gotten the opportunity to face each other for a third and final bout, which would determine who’s the superior boxer. But things are more complicated than they appear on the surface, and there’s a lot more to their rivalry than just boxing. When they’re given a chance to face off against 18,000 screaming fans, the two finally come face to face in what essentially becomes a grudge match for the ages.
My problem with “Grudge Match” is that it’s perfectly content with being mediocre when it has the potential to be a lot more. The dialogue is run-of-the-mill, Stallone seems to just be coasting through, and even Kevin Hart is totally wasted in the film and doesn’t garner any real laughs. What works are the performances delivered by De Niro (Last Vegas), Alan Arkin (Argo), and John Bernthal (The Walking Dead), and they’re the ones who make the film worth seeing.
De Niro seems to be having a blast in the role, and it really shows. He gets most of the laughs, not because of his dialogue, but because of his enthusiastic delivery. John Bernthal is extremely solid as Billy McDonnen’s son, and he makes the character likable and believable right from the start. And what can I say about Alan Arkin that I haven’t already said? The guy is great in anything he does, and this is no different.
The film, while extremely similar to “Rocky Balboa” (aka Rocky 6) when it comes to premise, doesn’t have anything poignant to say. It’s all played for laughs, and while that’s certainly fine, the jokes are too much of a mixed bag to be truly satisfying. It’s also a little difficult to root for either McDonnen or Sharp because of how immature and petty they both act. I also had a minor problem with Kate Basinger’s character arch, which didn’t make any sense to me. Director Peter Segal does hint at some larger themes, but ultimately goes nowhere with them.
The Verdict:
“Grudge Match” certainly has its moments, and I found the ending to be quite charming (and there’s a funny post-credits sequence that you shouldn’t miss), but it’s not essential viewing by any stretch of the imagination. It’s more “Last Vegas” than “Rocky Balboa”, and if you’re OK with that, you’ll have a good enough time.
Numerical Score: 6/10
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