“It’s okay, but nothing special.”
That is what you’ll probably feel when you see Peter Segal’s Grudge Match. Now, I know what are you thinking. How can a film that features two of Hollywood’s most popular veterans be so underwhelming? Well, even with popular actors, the film still underwhelms.
The film is directed by Get Smart’s director Peter Segal and stars alumni The Godfather’s Robert De Niro and Rocky’s Sylvester Stallone in respective roles of Billy “The Kid” McDonnen and Henry “Razor” Sharp, two retired boxers still wanting to settle the score. Other actors include LL Cool J, Kevin Hart and Alan Arkin. The film was initially released on Dec. 25, 2013.
For those who missed out when the film first premiered, Grudge Match follows boxers Henry “Razor” Sharp and Billy “The Kid” McDonnen who become rivals after the two fights, each with a win over the other before Razor announces his retirement. Years later the two meet again by chance at a video game recording and their jellybean-packed/epic feud to settle the score begins again.
If that sounds like a cliché pulled from other films recent films, it pretty much is. Many scenes seemed to drag, and the comedic lines delivered by the characters were often hit or miss with the audience, with some moments being awkward and not funny at all, only serving to take away any momentum the film had built up.
That said, however, the film’s all-star cast managed to give much needed characterization in what would otherwise be typical characters and brings life to the mostly clichéd script. Despite its hit-or-miss approach, the comedy does actually manage to get a genuine laugh or chuckle out of you at times, and once action finally gets started, it is nostalgic to see both Stallone and De Niro getting back into the squared circle once more.
All in all, the movie is nothing special and not for everyone. However, it is good for a couple of laughs every now and then or if you want to see two of Hollywood’s greats lace up their boots one more time.
