Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Grudge Match Blu-ray Movie Review

"Well, I did do something, but that was a long time ago..."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown April 4, 2014

Rocky Balboa on the big screen with Jake LaMotta? Stallone vs. De Niro, in a fist-flinging battle of boxing's most iconic cinematic heavyweights? Who wouldn't be intrigued by the possibilities? Unfortunately, Grudge Match takes one wrong turn too many, squanders opportunity after opportunity, and milks the same wide punch -- Stallone going toe to toe with De Niro, in the ring and out -- again and again and again until it exhausts all its power. The missteps? Swapping what could have been a bristling dual-character drama for another grizzled icon comedy. Flat jokes, dead-on-arrival one-liners and tiresome gags ripped straight out of a dozen lesser films. A wobbly, uneven screenplay unsure of what move it wants to make next. Geriatric pacing. Dodgy CG facelifts. Kim Basinger and Kevin Hart, telegraphing every swing. The most out of place feel-good ending you're likely to roll your eyes through all year. And montages, montages and moooore montages! The hits just keep on coming. Stallone and De Niro give their best, and do manage to hold the movie together, but their best isn't enough. Grudge Match is a casting coup curiosity that makes for a semi-decent rainy day rental, little more.

Retired Pittsburgh boxing champions and lifelong rivals Henry "Razor" Sharp (Sylvester Stallone) and Billy "The Kid" McDonnen (Robert De Niro) agree to settle a decades-old score in a highly publicized rematch orchestrated by upstart promoter Dante Slate Jr. (Kevin Hart). But while Sharp is fighting to earn a much-needed payday, McDonnen is fighting to salvage his pride; pride that suffered a devastating blow years earlier when Razor beat The Kid then promptly hung up his gloves. Theirs is a rivalry that's only intensified with time, and Slate's "Grudgement Day" rematch promises to give McDonnen his day in the ring. To get in shape, Razor recruits the help of former trainer Louis "Lightning" Conlon (Alan Arkin), a gruff veteran who warns Sharp of the dangers of testing his limits so far past his prime. The Kid, meanwhile, turns to the adult son he never knew he had: B.J. (The Walking Dead's Jon Bernthal), a devoted single father who happens to be the product of a fling between The Kid and Razor's ex-girlfriend, Sally (Kim Basinger). With mere weeks to prepare and publicity stunts aplenty to attend, Razor and The Kid must face their pasts and prepare for a future where the man left standing will finally be crowned the victor of their long-standing feud.

Grudge Match Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Grudge Match steps into the ring with a 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation as young and spry as a recent theatrical release should offer. Colors are lifelike and natural, with strong primaries, well-saturated skintones and deep, satisfying black levels. Contrast is a touch hot but consistent, and detail is excellent. Edges are crisply defined, fine textures are nicely resolved and delineation doesn't falter. There are several shots that fall victim to shoddy CG, many of which suffer with wobbling, plasticized faces. (Stallone and De Niro's mugs have been digitally de-aged and planted atop stand-in bodies, an effect that's shaky at best. There's even a ridiculously shaky shot of De Niro's head all but floating on the shoulders of a Dancing with the Stars contestant late in the film. And yes, it's as bad as it sounds.) Even so, any and every associated eyesore traces back to the source, not the notably proficient encode. To Warner's credit, artifacting and banding aren't in play, aliasing and shimmering don't rear their gnarled heads, and other issues like crush and ringing are kept to the barest of minimums. Short version? Grudge Match doesn't disappoint.

Grudge Match Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The film's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track does a fine job with everything it's given too... although, outside of the ring, that doesn't amount to a whole lot. The bulk of Grudge Match is fairly front-heavy, with quieter conversations and score-less stretches dominating the proceedings. There are numerous standout elements and sequences -- The Kid's gym is a hotspot of directional activity, crowded bars and publicity events convincingly spread the boxers' fans and detractors around the soundfield, an MMA visit features a particularly immersive stadium, and the climactic rematch between Razor and The Kid offers ample sonic style and substance -- but it does lead to a slightly erratic experience. Still, dialogue is clear and intelligible at all times, prioritization is spot on, rear speaker activity is engaging, and the LFE channel grants every jab, body blow and hook welcome weight and power. The soundtrack also offers a number of punchy rock anthems from years past, each one making its presence known the moment it comes out swinging. All told, the lossless track sounds quite good. Not remarkable, but pretty good.

Grudge Match Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Bull & The Stallion (HD, 14 minutes): Key members of the cast and crew, from director Peter Segal to Stallone and De Niro to Alan Arkin and more, sit down to discuss the movie, its tone and characters, Stallone's fight choreography, and other highlights of the production.
• In the Ring with Kevin Hart (HD, 5 minutes): Hart laughs it up on set as Segal and company wax poetic about his contributions to the film, Dante's Don King aspirations, and the actor's flurry of verbal blows.
• Kevin Hart Unedited (HD, 4 minutes): Another Hart extra, this one focused on outtakes and improv.
• Ringside with Tyson & Holyfield (HD, 3 minutes): An in-movie interview segment about "Grudgement Day" with real-life boxing legends (and one-time nemeses) Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.
• Blow by Blow with Larry Holmes (HD, 4 minutes): Former boxer Larry Holmes visits the set.
• Alternate Opening (HD, 7 minutes): A longer opening sequence, with an introduction by Segal.
• Alternate Endings (HD, 3 minutes): Two additional endings, also with an intro by Segal.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 7 minutes): Six axed scenes, again, with introductions by Segal.

Grudge Match Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Grudge Match isn't the next great boxing classic. It wouldn't last three seconds in the ring with Rocky or Raging Bull, and even Rocky V would have a good shot of putting it on its back. Even those who enjoy its drunken genre hopping will forget it by the next morning. The draw, of course, is Stallone and De Niro, and they do deliver some memorable moments. But beyond Rocky and LaMotta, there just isn't much to like. Warner's Blu-ray release is a more worthy contender, with a terrific video presentation and solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, but its featherweight supplemental package leaves a lot to be desired. All that being said, some of you will undoubtedly get a kick out of Grudge Match -- mainly those who can be sustained simply by watching Stallone and De Niro go mano a mano in a boxing movie -- making it, at the very least, worth renting.