Grudge Match

Name: Grudge Match
Genre: Sport, Comedy
Released: December 25, 2013
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 35
Cast: Alan Arkin, Jon Bernthal, Kevin Hart, Kim Basinger, Robert De Niro

2013

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 109 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 109 Ratings

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Grudge Match

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: December 25, 2013 | PG-13

Starring: Alan Arkin, Jon Bernthal, Kevin Hart, Kim Basinger, Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone

Summary: A pair of aging boxing rivals are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout.

Director: Peter Segal

Genre(s): Sport, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

Lawrence Toppman

Dec 24, 2013

Formulaic, yes. Settled with as many reconciliations and promises of happiness as “A Christmas Carol,” absolutely. But a familiar pleasure, nonetheless. Read full review

David Hiltbrand

Dec 24, 2013

Even though it's all preliminaries, no main event, Grudge Match is harmless enough as entertainment. Just not as harmless as its poor protagonists. Read full review

Tom Russo

Dec 25, 2013

Stallone and De Niro simply don’t generate enough combative spark to make this anything more than an amiably mediocre diversion. Read full review

Eric Hynes

Dec 25, 2013

Even by low standards, Grudge Match is astonishingly undercooked. Read full review

Scott Bowles

Dec 23, 2013

Grudge could have saved itself with a rousing finale, but the buildup is so tedious you just want the fight to end. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Dec 24, 2013

[An] overlong, drab, not-so-funny sports comedy. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Dec 18, 2013

This is a strange, unfunny, and unmoving boxing riff that simultaneously apes the hoary templates of Thirties and Forties fisticuffs films, nails cliches, and telegraphs its eventual outcome at every opportunity. A remarkably uninspired movie overall, Grudge Match is pure pablum melodrama all the way down to the final count. Read full review

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User Reviews

MB_

Apr 3, 2014

I came in not expecting too much but was very happy with the film.

Yes there were a few throwaway tribute gags to the old boxing films and by half way through things get a little predictable. But I can enjoy the virtues of the film. The problem with modern films to me is thatI came in not expecting too much but was very happy with the film.

Yes there were a few throwaway tribute gags to the old boxing films and by half way through things get a little predictable. But I can enjoy the virtues of the film.

The problem with modern films to me is that characters do things that don't make sense and just act to move the film forward, this incongruence is glaring but in this case each character was actually acting in character.

Not really a fan of DeNiro, his performances are usually that showy, he doesn't usually play an actual human being more panto villain. Stallone was his usual old self and didn't embarrass himself and everyone else in the case were great, Arkin didn't emulate Meredith at all which was a great choice and Hart was pretty amusing as the comedy relief.

The critic snobbery is of course no surprise, they hate anything with Stallone, this is fact. They could have written their reviews months ago, they are that predictable.

I'm giving it a ten because I liked the characters and script that's what I'm all about.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Mortimer

Jan 25, 2014

Grudge Match tells the story of two boxers Henry " Razor " Sharpe ( Sylvester Stallone ) and Billy "The Kid" McDonagh (Robert De Niro ) Won each other for one match . 30 years later, they met at a crucial Grudge Match . The film proved to be a comedy in the genre with great jokes and greatGrudge Match tells the story of two boxers Henry " Razor " Sharpe ( Sylvester Stallone ) and Billy "The Kid" McDonagh (Robert De Niro ) Won each other for one match . 30 years later, they met at a crucial Grudge Match . The film proved to be a comedy in the genre with great jokes and great acting.

Sylvester Stallone played perfectly " Razor ." His character soperezhivaeshdazhe knowing that he will win .

Robert De Niro is Sylvester Stallone opponent because his story is very touching.

Grudge Match is a very funny comedy with a great cast , good sauntrek and a good storyline .… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

CoreGamer1408

Dec 16, 2018

A tale of family of rivals of closure. I think I had more fun with this than any of the Rocky movies. Beyond all sense and reason these two big, but ageing stars pull off a convincing boxing movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Movie1997

Jan 4, 2014

While you can still have fun with this movie, I still wish this could have been better than just being a plain comedy. It doesn't really feel like you're watching a big rivalry between Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNero, it feels more like slapstick comedy no one will remember, but neverWhile you can still have fun with this movie, I still wish this could have been better than just being a plain comedy. It doesn't really feel like you're watching a big rivalry between Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNero, it feels more like slapstick comedy no one will remember, but never the less, it still brings in laughs and touches a little on the main stars. Overall, it's a decent re-hash of former Rocky and Jack! I give it a B-! Be sure to check out my YouTube channel, "TheMovieManLife" for all things movies.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

catcarlo

Jan 24, 2014

Va bene, a mente fredda si finisce per pensare che, in fondo, è una stupidata. Però, stando al gioco, ci si diverte per un centinaio di minuti senza troppi pensieri: basta lasciarsi andare alla sfacciata inverosimiglianza e osservare i due vecchi leoni fare il verso al proprio passato eVa bene, a mente fredda si finisce per pensare che, in fondo, è una stupidata. Però, stando al gioco, ci si diverte per un centinaio di minuti senza troppi pensieri: basta lasciarsi andare alla sfacciata inverosimiglianza e osservare i due vecchi leoni fare il verso al proprio passato e sovente gigioneggiare appoggiati a una storia in cui non mancano spunti e battute (dopo pochi minuti, De Niro proclama ‘sono un grande attore’ mentre a Stallone viene vietato di prendere a pugni i quarti di manzo in una cella frigorifera). Razor (Sly) e il Kid (Bob) si odiano da trent’anni – da cui il titolo originale ‘Il match del rancore’ - per motivi sportivi e sentimentali: da quando il primo ha rinunciato al confronto che avrebbe dovuto sancire la superiorità di uno dei due (e alla boxe tutta) dopo che il secondo gli ha messo incinta la fidanzata (Basinger e, nelle immagini degli anni Ottanta, la figlia Ireland). Dante, il tascabile erede del vecchio promoter (un Kevin Hart che fa parecchio il verso a Eddie Murphy), prova a resuscitare la sfida per soldi e i due, dopo qualche tentennamento accettano: Razor ha un posto di lavoro traballante e mantiene il vecchio allenatore (Alan Arkin fa il Burt Young senza la vena di amarezza ma con un rumorosissimo apparecchio acustico) mentre Kid è un vanaglorioso figlio di buona donna e non può certo tirarsi indietro. Inizia così l’allenamento parallelo, in cui si inserisce il figlio della colpa come manager di papà, e si arriva alla grande sfida davanti a mezza Pittsburgh: dodici round di irreale scazzottamento a guardia bassa (del resto i due sono stati protagonisti di match cinematografici tra i più sanguinolenti della storia) al termine del quale Razor grida ‘Adrianaaaaaa’ – no, ok, stavo scherzando – e Kid recupera un po’ di dignità. Ambientata in una periferia urbana abbastanza anonima, la sceneggiatura di Tim Kelleher e Rodney Rothman delinea due antagonisti tagliati con l’accetta mettendo via via più a fuoco il confronto tra un ‘buono’ e un ‘cattivo’ o, quantomeno, un ‘simpatico’ e un ‘antipatico’: Stallone è monolitico come di prammatica nell’interpretare il rude-ma-sensibile Razor mentre De Niro (il cui doppiaggio lo fa sempre sembrare strafatto di elio) utilizza il suo ghigno beffardo per rendere la meschinità che contraddistingue il suo personaggio. Il grande Bob dà l’impressione di divertirsi e rende assai di più rispetto ai tanti ruoli ‘alimentari’ interpretati di puro mestiere in varie commedie degli ultimi anni, e anche gli altri attori sembrano condividere l’atmosfera generale, con la spalla comica di Arkin che si fa preferire a quella sopra le righe di Hart, mentre Basinger – il cui personaggio è nonna di un bimbo di otto anni – rende lustro ai miracoli della chirurgia estetica. Il regista Peter Segal mette in immagini il tutto senza voli pindarici, ma con una buona attenzione al ritmo e un’inevitabile attenzione al citazionismo visivo: il risultato è un onesto prodotto medio che si regge sul carisma dei suoi interpreti e che assolve al suo compito di divertire senza troppi retropensieri accompagnato da una simpatica colonna sonora d’epoca (‘Back in black’ degli AC/DC accompagna Razor sull’ultimo ring). Da notare che i titoli di coda sono inframezzati da un paio di scenette conclusive (non al termine del rullo, perciò non c’è da aspettare tanto): in una, Dante cerca di organizzare un nuovo incontro fra Tyson e Holyfield – li chiama per cognome per farli riconoscere, si suppone – prendendosi i suoi rischi.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

The3AcademySins

Apr 8, 2019

Grudgematch's parts are somehow greater than it's whole. You have two legendary actors, Robert DeNiro and Sylvester Stallone. A great supporting cast including Alan Arkin and Kevin Heart. You have a great director and screenwriter. Through some misfortune, the movie itself nowhere near livesGrudgematch's parts are somehow greater than it's whole. You have two legendary actors, Robert DeNiro and Sylvester Stallone. A great supporting cast including Alan Arkin and Kevin Heart. You have a great director and screenwriter. Through some misfortune, the movie itself nowhere near lives up to its premise. Robert DeNiro and Sylvester Stallone are great. Kevin Heart's character however, comes off as annoying and cringy. The score is uninspired and bland. Way too much time is spent on the personal relationship drama, and the fight that is promised does not live up to its expectations. The drama however, is quite well done, but when contrasted by Kevin Heart's spastic comedy, everything feels off. The script is way too safe and plays it by the book way too closely. There's not enough here to warrant more than one viewing, unfortunately.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JLuis_001

Feb 6, 2018

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest disappointments De Niro has given.
It's a shame to see it in this.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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