Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		2.5

Over the Top Blu-ray Movie Review

Don't let 'Over the Top' fly under the radar.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 21, 2009

Do you really think you can make up 10 years in 2-3 days?

Like any good movie, Over the Top delivers a deeper and more satisfying experience than its superficial plot line might otherwise suggest. As it appears, Over the Top is an arm wrestling movie, a by-the-numbers rags-to-riches, true underdog tale of one man's strength and courage to overcome the odds and prove that he's more than the world believes him to be. On a deeper level though, Over the Top delivers heartwarming Drama that works its way both into the arm wrestling plot and the audience's heart. A true 80s movie that features one of that decades biggest stars and delivers the tried-and-true message on the positive attributes of a character's courage, personal faith, and determination to better his life as only he knows how, Over the Top represents one of the lesser-known little gems of the 1980s and features star Sylvester Stallone (Tango & Cash) in one of his best roles.

Take him over the top!

Trucker Lincoln Hawk (Stallone), long since separated from his wife Christina (Susan Blakely) and son Michael (David Mendenhall), is contacted by his now-dying ex-wife and asked to pick up his son from the military academy at which he lives and learns. Confronted with the sight of his father for the first time in memory, it takes Michael some time to not just warm up to his father, but to even accept the fact that he's suddenly back in his life some 10 years later. The two hit the road in Hawk's big rig truck, the grimy and unaccommodating interior not up to Michael's high standard of limousines and private jets that he enjoys courtesy of his rich caretaker and grandfather, Jason Cutler (Robert Loggia). Michael demeans his father's intelligence and nutrition habits, but Hawk isn't about to let his son ruin this second chance. He does his best to show his son a good time, but when the two stop for a bite to eat, Hawk is challenged by a burly man to an arm wrestling match. Much to Michael's surprise, his father is a world-class arm wrestler who earns extra cash in the back rooms of truck stops and aspires to compete in the world championships in Las Vegas. When Christina passes away before Hawk and Michael can get to her side, Michael deserts his father in a fit of rage. Again alone, Hawk pursues his son but also finds himself days away from the championships in Vegas with a grand prize that promises to change his life forever.

Over the Top is a difficult film to categorize. It's more of a Human Drama than anything else, a Karate Kid-style movie that looks at what motivation, confidence, and belief in oneself can accomplish, even in the face of the longest of odds. It's also something of a nontraditional Action movie; it's not a Demolition Man or Rambo-style shoot 'em up sort, but even in the midst of predictability -- it's easy to guess the outcome of every single arm wrestling match in the movie -- the mano-a-mano competitions bring a level of excitement (not to mention bulging veins, contorted faces, and flexing muscles) to the screen that was, and still is, somewhat novel in the realm of everyday motion pictures. Still, Over the Top manages to take one of the lesser sports and dramatize it to wonderful effect. It goes to show that sports action transcends the ability to hit, kick, or throw a ball; ESPN has for years done a fantastic job of creating must-see events out of tertiary sports like poker and the World's Strongest Man competition, and Over the Top goes to show that arm wrestling, too, can deliver plenty of raw emotion and traditional sporting excitement despite its status as a nontraditional major sport and without a plethora of instantly-recognizeable talent as is found in baseball, football, hockey, and now even poker and strongman tournaments.

Sylvester Stallone is the glue that holds Over the Top together. His is a character that's easy to sympathize with and cheer for; he does his best and only his best at all he sets out to do, and once his son returns to his life, all other priorities play second fiddle to rekindling the relationship that's suffered under a 10-year hiatus. Stallone is truly an underrated actor. As he proved in First Blood, he excels with emotional material; his impassioned speech on the state of his life in that film was the stuff Oscar gold is made of. In Over the Top, he at times delivers vintage Stallone -- mumbling lines and hedging his bets on brawn as much as brain -- but he once again plays a man down-on-his luck but capable of so much more than the circumstances will allow, and plays it well. His solidly emotional performance reflects a quality script that takes on a surprisingly effective melancholy tone at times, though it never feels forced or disingenuous. The father-son relationship is well developed, and it's easy to become engrossed in their lives, care for their well-being, root for them during the arm wrestling match-ups, and most important of all, wish them well as they draw closer together through the bond of love and the good times and the bad.

Over the Top Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Over the Top arrives on Blu-ray with a high quality 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. The image is generally film-like, accompanied by subtle layer of grain. It does go soft in a few random shots, but otherwise remains pleasing to the eye and sharp and clear throughout. Fine detail ranges from satisfactory to excellent; the interior of Hawk's truck, for instance, reveals plenty of grime, scratches, dings, and nicks that add character and realism to both the object and the 1080p image. Several hazy interior scenes, such as one at a truck stop in chapter four, lose a small amount of detail but otherwise hold up well given the conditions. Black levels and flesh tones are never overtly problematic, but the transfer does exhibit the occasional speckle of dirt or wayward scratch, but all in all, Warner Brothers has done a fantastic job with this catalogue title.

Over the Top Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Over the Top rolls onto Blu-ray with a basic but satisfactory Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Each particular 80s track during the film's several montages pour through the speakers with a fair level of clarity that's sure to put a smile on the face of any fan of that decade's music. The track features some environmental atmospherics across the front in several scenes; whether exterior nature shots or interior bar scenes, there is little in the way of total immersion as there's virtually no activity to be found in the back channels. Though much of the film is comprised of dialogue and 80s music, several action scenes do add some life to the mix. Hawk drives his trick through a gate at one point in chapter 13, though the scene features far more raw volume than absolute clarity. The aforementioned dialogue is reproduced crisply throughout, and on the whole, fans should be pleased, but not blown away, by this stable but otherwise average lossless soundtrack.

Over the Top Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Over the Top features only the film's theatrical trailer (480p, 1:27).

Over the Top Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

With its decidedly 80s style, Over the Top plays to a similar tune shared by many films of that decade -- that of persevering through thick and thin -- but does so with an honesty and genuine sense of spirit that sets it apart from many other like-minded films. With a strong and emotionally moving performance from Sylvester Stallone and some well-played arm wrestling matches that add some fun and excitement to a well-developed Human Drama, Over the Top represents a great little gem from the 1980s and arguably one of the decade's most underrated feel-good movies. Warner Brother's Blu-ray release comes as expected, with a strong 1080p transfer, a fair lossless soundtrack, and virtually no extras. Nevertheless, this catalogue title is smartly priced to sell, and Over the Top comes with a hearty recommendation.