Sylvester Stallone has been making good progress on his Hollywood bucket list. After finally playing opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Escape Plan, the next big fish was Robert De Niro, who co-stars with Stallone in Grudge Match.

Stallone is in such good shape that we sometimes forget just how old he is. The 67-year-old Rocky actor recently reprised his role as Rocky Balboa in the self-titled film, and puts the boxing gloves on again to go head-to-head with Raging Bull acting legend, Robert De Niro in Grudge Match.

While the actors have played two of the most famous boxing characters in Hollywood, this movie is all about the laughs as the veteran boxers try to relive their glory days in a comeback event to settle a 30 year old dispute. Not surprisingly the vendetta isn’t simply about winning in the ring, but about a woman who came between them.

Stallone is perfectly poised to play the retired boxer, Henry ‘Razor’ Sharp. His slurred speech and weathered look ties in well with the life of a professional boxer turned construction worker. De Niro is tough and tenacious as always, and while at first the two seem mismatched physically, makes a believable comeback as the whiskey-swilling Irish fighter, Billy ‘The Kid’ McDonnen.

“Well, if it was so good, what happened to Raging Bull 2?”

The two share many scenes, not afraid to make fun of themselves as they spar physically and verbally in a war of brawn and wits. Some of Grudge Match’s funniest moments happen while they’re trying to promote the long overdue fight showcasing their surprisingly good on-screen chemistry.

They’re not alone, supported by a very credible cast of award-winning talents including: Alan Arkin and Kim Basinger. Arkin’s hilarious as Razor’s old school coach ‘Lightning’, delivering a series of funny and inappropriate lines to remind us he was in Argo. It’s been 20 years since Basinger blazed her way through L.A. Confidential and she’s still got it, playing the romantic interest and point of contention.

Kevin Hart is a funny guy on an off day and gets a chance to flex his comedic muscle opposite Arkin as the agent trying to cash in on Grudgement Day. Then Jon Bernthal gives a stoic straight up performance as a guy from McDonnen’s past.

Get Smart director Peter Segal knows comedy and leverages his two actors and their star power to great effect. The comedy writing is crisp, lively and adds to the belly laughs and heartwarming undertones of a feud so bitter and cherished that they’re like brothers.

Grudge Match is a tongue-in-cheek comedy and buddy movie. There are emotional strains to the story, but this one’s all about the feel good fun as the boxers try to keep up with the times, relive their former glory and find that they’re not as invincible as they once thought. Be sure to stay for the credits to see Kevin Hart try to put another famous feud to rest.

The bottom line: Entertaining

Release date: 24 January, 2014
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