Grudge Match
Most people think this film was a Sylvester Stallone project, but according to Robert De Niro he got the script first and quickly came to the conclusion that Stallone would be the best choice to play his opponent. Stallone himself was actually quite reluctant to do the film at first, as he did not want to parody Rocky (1976) and De Niro had to talk him into it. Stallone claimed that he had a harder than usual time training for the role since he was taking a break from action roles and had stopped working out as much as he normally does.,Billy mentioned his dealership is open on Sundays, but it is illegal to open a car dealership on Sunday in Pennsylvania.,[from trailer]
Lightning: Hey Webster, show a little respect!
Dante Slate, Jr.: I choose to believe that you just called me Webster because of my dictionary-sized vocabulary, *not* because of my height and race!
Lightning: Nope, it's because you're short and black!
Dante Slate, Jr.: What was Jesus like? I'm curious. Was he cool?,There are two scenes in the closing credits: Razor, Lightning and Slate watch Kid perform on Dancing with the Stars (2005), and later Slate arranges a rematch between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.,Edited from Rocky (1976),Blending Soul
Written by Leonard Lenaburg and Michael Liggins
Performed by Soul Blenders
Courtesy of Fervor Records Vintage Masters,Sylvester Stallone must really love boxing. After returning to the Rocky films this past decade, he once again enters the ring in Grudge Match. But the smart thing here is that he's kind of poking fun at himself. Instead of trying to play a younger boxer which wouldn't be realistic anymore at his age, he plays a retired boxer who really is old this time around.

The story focuses on a rivalry between two boxers who fought each other a couple of times 30 years ago, winning one fight apiece. Naturally, that situation calls for a "rubber match" to decide the true winner. But it never happened. Hostility remains between the two guys 3 decades later though. Stallone plays Henry "Razor" Sharp and Robert De Niro plays Billy "The Kid" McDonnen. When the two both arrive on set for a computer-simulated video game that will use their likenesses, they engage in a physical altercation which soon goes viral for all the world to see. This prompts a desire to see the two of them in the ring together once again.

Kevin Hart plays the loud-mouth promoter who puts the fight on. He plays the same type of character he always plays, but still very funny nonetheless. The same goes for a funny Alan Arkin as Stallone's trainer who also plays the same type of character that he always does. So there's nothing truly unique about the movie, but it doesn't take itself too seriously and that's kind of a good thing. It focuses on the funny for the most part, but also adds some depth to the characters when it shows the struggles they're having in their personal lives. That's part of the reason they agree to do the fight... along with a genuine grudge the two still have between each other after all these years. Some of the jokes can be lame at times, but there are some good zingers here and there when seeing the two old guys poke fun at each other. And the fight at the end of the film is done well and worth waiting for.,We're celebrating the iconic Sylvester Stallone with a look back at some of his most indelible film performances, from Rocky and Rambo, to Joe in the new superhero movie Samaritan.,