Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Grduge Match (2013)

What is it about? 

Two boxing rivals with personal conflicts never truly settle their dispute with a rubber match. After thirty years of hatred, frustration, and agony, both men come to ahead to finally solve their inner issues and put to rest their longstanding dispute.

Who is in it? 

Sylvester Stallone - Henry "Razor" Sharp

Robert DeNiro - Billy "The Kid" McDonnen

Kevin Hart - Dante Slate Jr. 

Kim Basinger - Sally


Favorite Scene: 

After seeing a special documentary on television highlighting Sharp and McDonnen's history, Dante Slate Jr. goes to Sharp's house to begin the process of cashing in on the boxers' history. 

Favorite Quote: 

"Boy you must have been really tired. You fell asleep with a lot of people!"

Review: 

How many people thought of Rocky and Raging Bull colliding when they decided to sit down and watch this movie? From the trailer and the description, the film looks like a spoof for Rocky Balboa and Jake LaMotta, or at the very least, something that was made to touch on the light parts of both films. Oddly enough, this film has those moments, a few more, but for the most part, that's all. 

I found Grudge Match to be an alright film that provided moments of laughter largely due to Kevin Hart and Alan Arkin, but for the most part, it just felt like it never got to that second or third gear. The plot is actually tremendous, and you really begin to buy into the hatred between the two characters portrayed by Stallone and De Niro. However, the back end of the movie leaves a lot to be desired. Especially, the sappiness in the latter stages regarding their personal lives and what occurs in the actual fight. And the end just comes of out of nowhere and leaves the story up in the air. 

Don't expect much from Grudge Match. It's not a terrible film, but it's definitely the kind that you will find on your cable channels on a weekend opposite something of more significance.

Grade: 2/5

Recently Read Posts

A Product of Us: Thoughts on Durant Trade

I said back in July when Kevin Durant rocked the NBA world with his trade request, that he "showed us who he was".  It wasn't a negative comment, but one that encompasses his entire career being a product of our current sport climate - success and focus on legacy. We emphasize the value of a career on rings, and thus, Durant has too. Why wouldn't he?!  Upon waking up and realizing that Durant will don the purple and orange for the Phoenix Suns in what is clearly now a team to watch come the NBA Playoffs, I find myself further pondering if Kevin Durant is the prime result of what we - yes, us! - have done to the modern athlete.  Today, Durant is one of the greatest basketball players I've ever seen. EVER. The dude is rare. He's a seven-foot magician which makes defending him even more difficult based on how damn efficient he is on the basketball court. It's downright poetic and beautiful to watch Durant play. And yes, I'm romanticizing his game. I belie

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/19/23

3 Up 1. India's Tap Water Access - This is a rather remarkable story. It's a story that offers humility wrapped in the extraordinary. India's Jal Jeevan Mission provided almost 79 million - 79 MILLION! - households with tap water. Just tap water!  2. Jordan Make-A-Wish Record - MJ is often loved through nostalgia, narrative, and remembrance for being politically neutral - even in giving. MJ these days has made some influential contributions, including this latest $10M donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation.  3. WWE Elimination Chamber - A tremendously entertaining pay-per-view on the road to Wrestlemania. The best storyline in pro wrestling continues to evolve between Sami Zayn and the Bloodline.  3A. City of Montreal - Give it up to the city of Montreal for what made a few nights of pro wrestling an awesome experience. Can we get this city more events?  3 Down 1. Michigan State Shooting - We're broken. Very broken. My thoughts and prayers are with those friends and fam

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/5/23

3 Up 1. Beyonce History - The Queen made history at the Grammys with her 32nd (!!) win. The number alone sounds absolutely ridiculous, but after all, it's Beyonce we are discussing here. Congrats to Queen B.  2. Viola Davis - We're going career acknowledgment this weekend and up next is the wonderfully talented, Viola Davis. Davis entered that rarified air in entertainment rounding out her "EGOT" with a Grammy win. Every time you think about an EGOT, it makes you appreciate just how damn talented you must be to be in that conversation.  3. Tom Brady Career - And then there is Brady, who finally called it a career. It's wild to think I was a teenager watching Tom Brady win his first Super Bowl. Congrats to Brady on a remarkable career.  3 Down 1. Florida Higher Ed Proposal - If Florida leadership wasn't doing all sorts of cringy things within the education system, this week we saw proposed bills to eliminate diversity programs and a call to reduce tenure for ed

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Uncorked (2020)

What is it about? Elijah must balance his love and dream to become a master sommelier with his father's expectations to carry on and take charge of the family business.  Who is in it? Mamoudou Athie - Elijah Courtney B. Vance - Louis Niecy Nash - Sylvia Sasha Compere - Tanya Favorite Scene: [spoiler alert]  Following taking the sommelier exam, Elijah is restless in the hotel room. His father knocks on the door, and suddenly plans to spend the night with him. He pours them both a glass of wine, and they play dominoes.  Favorite Quote:  "How do you choose between family and your dream?" "How do you choose between family and your dream?" Review:  I first saw Uncorked on Netflix during the height of the pandemic lockdown when we all had nothing else better to do than watch television. So of course, go figure, after testing positive for COVID this week, your boy felt miserable nothing better to do while dealing with sever symptoms that watch a movie.  The film was as