On O List of Movie Reviews
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Over the Top (1987)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
11/03, 7/05, 6/06, 6/08, 12/15, 3/22
7/05:
Over the Top is a unique testosterone-fueled extravaganza where machismo bleeds everywhere in the world
of arm wrestling.
It's also an ultimate Stallone picture. Sylvester gives a Rocky-like performance as his character
has a million-to-one shot to be an Arm Wrestling World Champion.
All in all, Over the Top is a top ten Stallone picture.
6/06:
Forget the kid, and forget the sob story.
The arm wrestling is where the action is in Over the Top. "You got guys from M.I.T., and you got guys who can't
spell M.I.T." reads the tagline of the film's poster. There's absolutely nothing like it. Pure testosterone bleeds
everywhere as arm wrestlers eat cigars, drink motor oil, and trash-talk and are backed by pounds of muscle, intense
mentality, and do-or-die attitudes.
All in all, Over the Top is the best arm wrestling film ever filmed, period.
6/08:
Over the Top is hands down the best arm wrestling film ever made.
Of course, it's the only one there is as far as I know. The sob story between the kid and his father has to go; it just
sucks and takes away what the movie is all about. Instead, it's the intensity and ferocity shown by the adrenaline-junkie
arm wrestlers that's absolutely fantastic and unbelievable to watch.
Some of the highlights are: John Grizzly drinking motor oil and eating a smoking cigar and Bull Hurley staring
down at everybody with his piercing eyes. I love the double personality of each character. On one hand, he's all sky-high
pumped up before the match yet is calm and lucid during interviews. It's very fascinating stuff.
All in all, the arm wrestling action is the best part of Over the Top.
12/15:
Over the Top is the perfect vehicle for Sylvester Stallone.
There's nothing like it. The high testosterone-filled arm wrestling scenes are still entertaining. It's brilliant stuff.
All in all, you've got to love the scene of John Grizzly drinking Valvoline motor oil.
3/22:
Over the Top only works for the arm wrestling scenes, and they alone are the reason to watch the film over and over.
Forget everything else; they mean nothing. Playing a spoiled, conceited character whose favor will swing to his dad's only if
there's something in it for him, David Mendenhall gets my vote as the Worst Supporting Actor of 1987. He even looks like Demi
Moore's child. I give Sylvester Stallone props for putting up with him although there were times I would've punched the kid in
the face.
The most memorable characters are the arm wrestlers with some of them real including one who literally broke
his arm during a match. While the testosterone-fueled atmosphere is a can't-beat, the film keeps confusing me when it comes
to Stallone's character's last name; is it Hawk or Hawks? They keep saying it's a "double-elimination tournament" a
million of times, but Bull Hurley lost once and is already out?
All in all, Over the Top is a Stallone classic.