It’s the cinematic boxing match we’ve always dreamed of witnessing: Rocky Balboa vs. Jake LaMotta. It’s just happening about 30 years later than anticipated. But still! Rocky and the Raging Bull, together at last!
Peter Segal’s Grudge Match is a silly comedy starring Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro as aging boxing legends and mortal enemies. As Henry “Razor” Sharp (Stallone) and Billy “The Kid” McDonnen (De Niro), the boxers faced off twice back in the day but a tiebreaking match never happened. They’re bitter, to say the least. Fast forward to present day, and they’re looking to settle the score for good after a viral video spreads of them bickering during a video game shoot in their motion-capture suits. It’s kind of precious. Cue the insane workout montages and inevitable journeys of self-discovery:
Though a comedy, the meat of the film seems to be about the two men proving to the public (and themselves) that they’ve still got it even though they’re old. Who’s the ass who makes the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” remark during the press conference? They’re mostly sticking it to that guy. Is it going to be heartwarming? Probably. Was that Sylvester Stallone pulling a semi truck with just his body weight? Definitely.
Also, can we please have a moratorium on using Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Can’t Hold Us” in trailers? There’s got to be a better option.
Grudge Match is in theaters December 25th.
