Over the Top (1987)
Directed by Menahem Golan
This is one time where a title of the movie really describes how the film feels. Today's forgotten classic is the much underrated Over the Top; the arm wrestling classic that starred Mr. Stallone. This movie did for arm wrestling what No Holds Barred did for Hulk Hogans movie career. I don't know about you but you but I am still a big arm wrestling fan. I go to all the hole in the wall bars and watch my favorite truck driving arm wrestling heroes like Aaron Lengyel.
Over the Top was directed by Menahem Golan, this guy has directed or producer countless movies. Let me name some; Cobra, Superman 4, all the Death Wish movies and Cyborg. The list goes on and on. So right there we are dealing with a legend of Hollywood. Combine Golan and Stallone with a dash of arm wrestling, my friend you have box office gold.
The amazing Robert Loggia, star of every damn movie ever, plays the evil father in law. This actor is very scary and I would not want to meet him on a bad day. Playing the role as the shit head son is David Mendenhall. His career really took a shit after this role. I take that back he was in Going Bananas with Jimmy Walker. I am sorry Mr Mendenhall.
This is a heart warming story of a dad that left his family in the lurch to make money as a truck driver. Some dad's make all the right choices. He is gone for ten years and misses out on his child growing up. He could have gotten a job any where. Was there a deal at the truck driving school by the house? His wife or ex-wife what ever; well she's dying and wants Hawk, that's Stallone, to pick up their son and get to know him. After ten years of being gone it takes his dying wife to ask him to get to know him. So starts the road trip with Hawk and his son Mike - the asshole.
Colorado to California is the road trip these two crazy guys go on. Mike - the asshole hates his father and Hawk doesn't know how to get through to his son. So Hawk decides to teach his dick of a son how to arm wrestle. Now the movie really picks up. We learn that Hawk has a dream to get his family back, that is to enter a arm wrestling tournment and win $100,000 and a new truck. I'm sure his wife, who by the way comes from a wealthy family, would just creak out about $100,000. Good plan Hawk!
As the movie moves along like a freight train the boys learn to be friends till the mom dies, I think it was when she found out how much Hawk could bring home in winnings. Mike - the asshole blames Hawk for missing out on his mother's final days. I hope they work out their problems by the end of the picture.
The movie is great with some awesome music and great arm wrestling scenes. Some of the best I have ever seen caught on film. So check out Over the Top for the first or for the 100th time. Till the next forgotten classic...
6/10
No comments:
Post a Comment