Over the Top
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Movie Reviews of Over the Top
Movie Review: Interesting, often forgotten film from the 1980's
Summary: 4 Stars
When you think of Sylvester Stallone most of the times movies like Rocky and Rambo come to mind. But there were a few other gems he has done in the 1980's that should be noted as fun and interesting watches 20 years later.
Over the Top is one of these films that you may have never heard about but should check out. Sylvester Stallone plays a truck driver named Lincoln Hawk who left his wife and son 10 years earlier due to the over baring and wealthy grandfather to his son Michael. Now with his wife that he hasn't been with in years dying, she has a request for father and son to reunite and get in some over due bonding time while they travel the road together. The grandfather Jason Cuttler, played by Robert Loggia is less then happy with the situation and wants his grandson returned to him at all costs.
The story is more then just a son and father reunited situation. It also deals with an arm wrestling competition in Las Vegas that will act as the exciting climax to the movie. Hawk is a new comer to arm wrestling competitions but seems to hold his own in private battles at local truck stops. If he can win this tournament he can get a new truck and have money to hopefully start his own company. But most of all prove his worth to a son who he owes a lot of lost time and love to.
While money wise, the movie was a dud in the box office, it has picked up a cult-following of sorts due to it's nostalgic and feel good story. A lot of 1980's themes will be found in this movie. Most notably with the music soundtrack that blares at us in the opening and closing credits and throughout various driving moments on the road. Sylvester Stallone really shines as well as a quiet, yet aggressive man who wants to be a father and drive a truck more then having any amount of money. The chemistry between Stallone and Loggia is interesting but far fetched at points. Loggia may come off as a little over the top and silly even in his schemes to keep the father and son apart so he can have him back.
The only real downsides of the movie are the weak plot points. Some moments seemed rushed through like the role of the mother in this film and everyone rushing to Las Vegas for the films climax. Michael cries a lot and seems to be over acting at moments. And the way the writers tried to make his grandfather seem like a real selfish SOB but also give him a little heart was confusing if not out of place in the story. A few moments could have been done a little better but for the most part this is a very good feel good movie but also has a lot of action. Some of it again is forced like him using his truck to break into the Bel Aire home of said grandfather and pushing one of the henchmen through a door as it shatters to dust. A little 'over the top' ironicly.
The best parts probably are the arm wrestling moments itself. The big underdog taking on really muscular and massive men that could even make some wrestlers shake in fear. Calm and steady Hawk taking them all on as they taunt him by drinking automobile oil from the can and giving him a bloody nose right before the match starts. The weird "Double Elimination" rules can make one wonder if that was put in for dramatic effects as they repeat that rule to us listeners at least 10 times so we get the point. Again seemed forced but the over all feel of the film is good fun and everything works out great for everyone involved and that's all one could expect from a movie of this time period.
I definitely say give it a watch if you haven't seen it or have forgotten about it. Its a nice film that really showed a different side of Stallone and has a little something for everyone. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets into the situation when his kid is yelling "Over the top dad!" as the tension mounts. A lost treasure from the past finally making its way to DVD. Not the best flim made but a lot of fun and a good trip down memory lane in one of those lost classics from Stallone.
Movie Review: TERRY FUNK AND SLY IN THE SAME FLICK
Summary: 4 Stars
OVER THE TOP
There have been many movies about sports but I don't know of to many about arm wrestling, this one is. This is your classic 80's movie with an over the top [meant to say that] pop rock soundtrack and cheesy lines, man I love em. Also this is your typical Sly Stallone film with an inspirational message and all about over coming the odds. I know what you are thinking that is every Sly flick, but hey it is Sly. When we watched this again the other night after many years we called every thing in the film, all things 80's that is.
The film follows Lincoln Hawk [Sly] has he is on a mission to make amends with the son he left behind many moons ago. The boy's mother is on her death bed and wants him to get to know his son before she goes. Of course the kid wants nothing to do with his estranged father and tries at all costs to get away. But as their journey counties he begins to get along with him that is until his mother dies before they get to see her. So they drift apart once more as the boy's grandfather has hired people to get the boy back with him. On top of all that Sly needs to win an arm wrestling tournament to get some money to buy his own rig.
Sly is Sly and acts as such which for this type of movie is great, don't see how you could go wrong with the Sly. Robert Loggia is great as the grandfather in the way of the father and son, he does an excellent job. Susan Blakely is great for the small amount of time she is on screen but unfortunately her character dies but that kick starts the movie kinda. David Mendenhall is surprisingly good in this film since most child actors are not all that great and of course Terry Funk is always fun no matter what.
Director Menahem Golan does a great job I think with an arm wrestling movie even if it is "over the top"; sorry I had to say that again. The four writers for the film including Sly himself make things interesting but it is your typical 80's action b dialogue, got to love it. Still this is a very predictable film as any one who remembers anything from the 80's can call everything in this without having seen it before. The first thing I said when we started this was that there had to be a song that actually uses "over the top" as lyrics in the chorus, yup there it is in the end. The first thing my brother called was that at some point the title of the film would be used as lines in the film, yep there they are.
This is a fun "over the top" 80's type flick that any Sly fan will enjoy, plus it has Terry Funk in it man. How could anything with the Funker in it be bad, I can't think of any. This is a fun weekend flick and pretty much a rental unless you want the Sly collection; I got it cheap so it was cool.
Movie Review: SYLVESTER STALLONE = ORSON WELLES OF THE 1980'S
Summary: 4 Stars
What can be said about OVER THE TOP that has not been said by millions before me? Words like "masterpiece" are thrown around this film so many times it's hard to add anything new, but I think I can. Why? Because I was born and raised in a tractor trailer and this movie really strikes a chord with me.
It all began when my father, a similar dirt under the nails type like Lincoln Hawk in the film, left my mother for no good reason except that she was rich and he liked to arm wrestle and drive a tractor trailer. So anyway, my rich grandpa hated my dad. The reason behind this was b/c grandpa was rich and daddy wasnt. Daddy liked to arm wrestle and drive a tractor trailer as i said previously. We know rich people and arm wrestles NEVER get along. So anyway, as Momma was dying, so Dad took me around the country in his truck and even forced me to arm wrestle some kid in an arcade. This was his way of teaching me to go OVER THE TOP and stop being a sissy. And just when I thought Dad was never there for me, I found out Grandpa lied and Dad had been sending me one letter a week for years... letters grandpa never let me read. One letter a week = This settled it. Dad really was a great father. Oh yeah, and my mom died, but it didn't really have anything to do with the plot.
THen OVER THE TOP Came out. The similarities to my everyday life were so striking I sued Mr. Sylvester Stallone. The Judge, the Honorable Hubert Soupenstein decided we should arm wrestle for rights to the movie. So dad armwrestled stallone, who of course won. The kind Mr. Stallone didnt mind us continuing to live in a tractor trailer forever and in fact even autographed this DVD for us. But it's not just about arm wrestling and tractor trailer kids, any kid can enjoy this. You know why? Cause it's about
FAMMMMMMMILY. And THAT is a story we can all learn from.
Movie Review: The struggle for an estranged sons love
Summary: 4 Stars
Over The Top is a fantastic piece of cinema couture, in which Sylvester Stallone shows his softer side. Really. I mean it. Not one person dies. Well, one person dies, but it is a sad event.
Right, so Sylvester Stallone is a truck driver who is estranged from his wife and son. His baby's momma get's hold of him and tells him that his son is finishing the year at military academy, and that she would love for him to reunite with his father. So, Sly-dog goes to pick up his kid, who immediately flips out and insists that Sly can't be his dad. Probably because he is all buff, and the kid is a bit of a weeny, but who knows.
So, father and son head off on a cross country, diesel fueled, emotional thrill-ride in Sly's (non-sleeper cab) big rig. Along the way, we learn about Stallone's primary passion: arm wrestling. After his son discovers that Sly is a good arm wrestler, he starts asking questions, which leads to a training montage, and eventually a challenge between the son and some spiky haired rapscallion playing pinball at a truck stop.
After this event, where father and son really connect, the boy is stolen (Stolen!) away by his own grandfather (maternal grandfather, go figure). More stuff happens and then Sly drives a big rig through his rich Father In-law's mansion and lays it all on the line: Sly will win the national arm wrestling championship in Las Vegas, and when he does, he will be taking his son back once and for all. Can Sly do it? Can he make a heartwarming movie where he has to arm wrestle for custody of his son? Over The Top is the answer!
Movie Review: this movie took me.... well you get the idea.
Summary: 4 Stars
Over the Top ruled! Lincoln Hawk is a down on his luck big rig trucker who tries to impress his wussy son with the powers of big riggin and arm wrestling. Unfortunatly, Hawk's mean father in law wants custody of the boy so Hawk has to get the Arm Wrestling First Prize money to win him back. Someone should have told him though that ramming a semi-truck through a house does not look good in court. A word of warning however, there are approximatly 600 mullets in this movie but Sly himself doesn't have one, so he has to compinsate by turning his hat backwards, which is the international sign of (A--) kickery. One of the better parts of the movie, (and most confusing) is when his son tries to escape his big rig truck and runs into highway traffic. Hawk catches him and grabs the child as he tries to struggle. It looks very, very bad and if I were a motorist and saw what was going on, I would call the authorities toot suite. Other then the cheesy 80's Pop and the pointless arm wrestler interviews this movie rocks.