Pretty cheesy stuff...

Rating: 4/10 (23 April 2014)

This movie felt like it was written by a stand up comedian in his late 40s/early 50s who still does his material from the 80s and think his Viagra joke is the height of hilarity.
Going into "Grudge Match," I knew the jokes were going to be excruciatingly predictable (yes, they do a "I've fallen and I can't get up" joke) and it was obvious that Kevin Hart was included just to get the younger people to the theater but I wasn't prepared how the film, almost like an Alzheimer's patient, suddenly forgets that it's a wacky sports comedy about two old dudes settling a rivalry and suddenly becomes a way too heavy drama about two old dudes who are foolishly ignoring the real priorities in their lives. While a drama element was as expected as the terrible jokes, the drama portion became way too serious that you forgot that just a minute ago they were doing jokes about Bobbie De Niro having moobs.
Bad, easy jokes in the film aside, I honestly think the film's cast did a tremendous job. Sly and Bobbie really have some chemistry on screen and really come off as two rivals who are out to get under each other's skin and beat them to a pulp in the ring (even though we, as an audience, acknowledge that, realistically, Stallone would destroy De Niro due to the fact that Sly is still in really good shape). I also really enjoyed the chemistry between De Niro and Jon Bernthal as De Niro's character's son. Bernthal is already a terrific actor but the two really played well together. Finally, Alan Arkin, as usual, is amazing and is able to take the weak jokes and the times when Kevin Hart is trying way too hard to be funny and is able to turn it around and be amusing—but he's just a wizard like that.
Overall, "Grudge Match" is a weak, unfunny film (with some frightening CG at the beginning of the filmthey couldn't hire younger actors to play young Sly and De Niro? They had to use nightmare inducing computer effects?) but the cast works their magic and perform great despite the circumstances.
Greetings, Earthlings! Do you feel like reading a more in-depth review of "Grudge Match" and some more rants, ramblings, bad jokes (but not "Grudge Match" bad), some geeky references and some more reviews that don't involve Sly Stallone restraining himself from killing Bobbie De Niro with one punch? Well, if you do, you can head on over to my blog; revronmovies.blogspot.com. If you don'twelldo whatever it is you were going to do anyway.