User reviews

I recently remembered seeing this film when I was much younger and liking it. When I checked it out on IMDb, I was quite disturbed. Why in the world would I like this weird, arm wrestling movie with Sylvester Stallone? So I rented it again to see why I had liked it as a kid or to see if I had been delirious when I first saw it. The strange thing is, even though it is not at all my type of movie, I still really enjoyed it. I've heard that the kid is a bad actor and all, but I really don't think he is. Maybe I'm still delirious, but I thought the movie was pretty darn heart warming.

Are you kidding me? Sylvester Stallone in an arm-wrestling movie? Does it get any better than that? If your balls have not turned into steel after seeing this movie, you're either a woman or... that is the only explanation. Acting? Plot? Cinematography? Who cares? Enjoy 90 minutes of pure testosterone and corniness. "Over the top" is without a doubt the most fitting movie title ever. If you enjoy either movies from the 80s, anything that's over the top or just Sylvester Stallone's weird acting and awkward yet somehow touching speeches, than you're gonna have a great time watching this movie. However, if you're not a fan of said things, than you should probably stay away from this masterpiece.

I grew up on this movie. This is the first movie I ever recall watching. My grandpa has his own Tractor-Trailer and I always went with him on road trips, so I instantly fell in love with this movie when I saw the truck. Even though it's an old, beaten up, disgusting truck, I would have to say it looks pretty sweet. Lincoln Hawk, played by Sylvester Stallone, is a independent trucker just trying to put his life back together. He realized he made mistakes, and tries to reconcile with his son that he abandoned years earlier. When the boy's grandfather offers Hawk the offer of a life time, and Hawk refuses....it's very clear to him, that he has no other choice but to win, and the determination really shows. Sly acts a bit uninterested in this movie...you can see it in his eyes. Every now and then you can catch his wandering off and not paying attention. If you watch closely, some of the extras often keep there eyes on the camera, and Sly will look at them. Pretty good movie, could have been better, but it's a for sure movie to watch.

Over the Top is pure Sylvester Stallone: the blue collar man with the heart of gold fighting his way through a world that dismisses him as a loser but he wins at the end with the help of someone who really understands and loves him. Same as the Rocky series, same as the Rambo series.

But I can't help it, I really like Sly. He certainly is no Shakespeare actor but there is that deep honesty he represents in all his flicks and it works. When he first walks into that military school building to fetch his son after cleaning his truck and trying to make himself look his "Sunday best" - I can't help it: it is just great.

Yes it is strange to see a well educated kid (by a military school) being transformed into a "regular guy" by his own father. But in this film that is only a metaphor. The real meaning is: it's the heart that counts, not the social position. Now that's a message which can't be dismissed as junk that easily.

I love the portraits and short interviews of the arm wrestling contestants. Brilliant.

Probably the best scene is when the (always wonderful) Robert Loggia finally accepts the fact that his grandson loves his dad. The "villain" hasn't been beaten. No even better: he has been convinced and transformed.

Over the Top works on two levels: as popcorn entertainment: "Blue collar hero beats the odds" and as good old fashioned, almost Frank Capra- like cinema: "good will always win in the end".

Bottom line: as with many a Sly flick (any film Sylvester Stallone agrees to participate in or where he actually did the writing, directing etc.)we have to work our way through a popcorn flick to find a deeper meaning. And I say it is there in Over the Top hitting it dead center.

So I'm a Sylvester Stallone fan. Now call me names, I can take it.

Over the Top is an extremely simple film. Its enormous narrative simplicity is what makes it so special. He ventures into action and drama in a very interesting way. The entire development of the father and son relationship throughout the film is very well constructed. The characters have a very troubled relationship throughout the beginning of the story, but as time passes we see this relationship becoming better and better and the sincerity that is conveyed in the love between the two is beautiful. When the film seeks to build some action scenes, it does so masterfully. Everything around the film is extremely fun and manages to move with dramatic scenes involving the family.

***SPOILERS*** Another one of the many Sylvestor Stallone meek common and simple man winning against astronomical odds like films that he made in the 1970's and 1980's has Sly playing soft spoken and inoffensive looking, until you try to mess with him, trucker Lincoln Hawk. Hawk has been summoned by his dying, from a serious heart operation, ex-wife Christina, Susan Blakley, who wants him to reunite with the couples 12 year old son Michael,David Mendenhall, whom he hasn't seen since birth! Of course Michael who's attending military school wants nothing to do with his dad feeling that he deserted him and his mom because his control freak Grandpa Jason "Cut-throat" Cutler, Robert Loggia, has been feeding him all kinds of crap about his dad for as long as he could remember.

It doesn't take long for Hawk to win little Michael over in his revealing to him, when he's challenged by some muscle bound dude at a local truck stop, his secret life as a big time arm wrestling champ. That together with teaching Michael to drive his 18 wheeler, without a license, down the highway had the boy finally look up to his absentee, for some 12 years, poppa as the man he'd like to be when he grows up! This all turns sour when finally getting to the hospital to see mom Michael finds out that she passed away without him being able to say a final good-by to her! Holding his pop responsible for being too late, by driving to the hospital with his dump truck not flying there with Grandpa, to see his mom alive he suddenly doesn't want to have anything to do with him.

The movie takes another turn for the worst for Hawk when in desperation to see Michael he power drives his rig straight into Grandpa Jason's mansion totally demolishing the place. Gramps declines to press charges against Hawk only if he gets out of both his and Michael's lives which Hawk, in avoiding the slammer, grudging agrees to. Now really on the outs with Michael the only thing left for Hawk to do is win the world champion arm wrestling contest at Las Vegas. That's where the down and out Hawk can finally prove to himself Michael and the world, as well as Grandpa Jason, that he's not the loser in life that everyone says he is. There's also the fact that Michael later finds hundreds of letters, including Christmas birthday and get well cards, from his pop that he sent him over the years that Grandapa hide from him! That proves to Michael that Poppa Hawk was indeed the sweet and caring person that he always told him he was! It also proved that Grandpa Jason wasn't that bright by leaving the letters out in the open, and not burning them, for his grandson Michael to find.

****SPOILERS**** The big final has lots of grunting and grinding among the sweating arm wrestling contestants at the Las Vegas Convention Hall with Hawk, sprained arm and all, taking on all comers as he works his way up to the #1 match with world arm wrestling champ, for five years straight, the 6 foot 4 inch 350 pound Bob "Bull" Hurley played by actual arm wrestling champion Rick Zumwalt. It's then that Michael, who ran away from home, shows up at the tournament together with Grandpa Jason, who's trying to get him back home, which turns out to be the turning point in this earth shattering and arm breaking arm wrestling match! That's by his son Michael giving Hawk the push that he needed to get it "Over the Top" and finally, after all the grunts groans and broken fingers & bones, winning the damn contest!

Sylvester Stallone is an arm-wrestling competitor and a trucker who battles for the heart and custody of his 10-year-old son (David Mendelhall) whom he left , years before , in the custody of his wife (Susan Blakely) against his father-in-law (Robert Loggia) . As the slow-witted trucker Sy who only wants to spend time with him , decides the only way he can retain custody of his estranged son , as well as win the boy's respect , is by winning a big arm-wrestling competition. Some fight for money... Some fight for glory...!. He's fighting for his son's love !. Driving headlong towards the biggest fight of his life !. His name is Lincoln Hawk and he's fighting for his son !. Lincoln Hawk will fight for his son the only way he knows how !. Last time, they drove him from his son !. This time, they will be no turning back !.

A pretty agreeable departure from style from Stallone , this offers his fans the action they'll expect while allowing the star the chance to play slight variations on the working-class roles that have made his name. This film really started a nationwide arm-wrestling craze. Following a plot similar to Kramer vs. Kramer about the problematic child custody theme . Adding a good production design , spectacular scenarios and remarkably nice use of Metrocolor photography gives the movie a natural , crisp look. Stallone gives a sensitive and enjoyable acting as the hunk trucker , while his son is played with old-fashioned charm by David Mendenhall. The relationship that springs up them ensures that even though the movie lays everything on a bit thickly , you'll cheering for Sly's vicissitudes on both arm-wrestling competitions and son's custody . So Silvester Stallone is an expert at grinding these movies out by now and the kid is all right. Sly's teddy-bear aura is slightly altered by his Rockyish desire to win at arm wrestling . Great Stallone being well accompanied by veteran Robert Loggia as a one-note villain playing his rich , iron-willed father-in-law and Susan Blakely as the separated wife in a thankless character .

This clichéd story displays a lot of catchings songs at the time and synthesizer soundtrack by Giorgio Moroder . And David Garfinkel's cinematography is ever alert to bright clear composition. The motion picture was professionally directed by Menahem Golan who created along with Yoram Globus the famous Cannon Productions . Golan also directed some acceptable films, such as : The Apple , Operation Thunderball , Death game , Hanna's War , Lepke , Armstrong , The Magician of Lublin , The Uranium Conspiracy , Kazablan , Ninja , Diamonds , Delta Force , among others . Rating : 6.5/10 , decent family drama . It isn't a classic , but watch worth seeing . This arm-wrestling epic will appeal to Sylvester Stallone fans and it will touch your heart deeply.

Nice is the word. Over the Top is a good example of Sylvester Stallone stepping away from the trappings of Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, and trying to create a movie the whole family can enjoy. Sure, the whole family may have enjoyed the Rocky movies but the violence of those films at best is toned down to mute here. Unlike the Rocky series with Boxing, Over The Top doesn't square its attention solely on this movies sport, Arm wrestling. So, there is plenty of room for deep rooted character developement. Unfortunately, Over The Top doesn't present us with this, and what we have is a Cannon Pictures knock off version of The Champ (1979), with Stallone and Sterling Silliphant's screenplay spreading on the sentimentality very thickly. We are presented with a screenplay remeniscent of the sentimental moments from the bulk of Slys career. And for the majority of the time it works remarkably well. Sly proves that he can act, making Lincoln Hawk (a typically mach named Stallone character), a likeable, funny and sincere character, so that you dont for one minute doubt the values of Hawk and the good man he is. The hard work Stallone puts into Hawk is completely obliterated by a terrible cliched performance by David Mendenhall as Hawks long lost son Mike. A typical spoilt bratt, you wish Sly would beat the life out of Mendenhall ala Rocky VS Drago in the closing moments of Rocky IV, at one or two times during the movie. Mendenhall has NO redeaming features and compliments the movie zero. It would have perhaps been better had someone like Sean Astin or Macauly Culkin played the part of Hawk's son. The sentimentality comes in the form of Susan Blakely as Hawk's estranged and dying wife, and this once again is a burden to the movie, because the scenes, handled with too much syrup by director Menahem Golan go too far over the top (no pun) to try and reach your tear ducts. Despite this everything pays off. The Arm wrestling scenes are handled efficiently by Golan, and come close to the heart pumping heroics of the Rocky movies, and Georgio Moroders 80's Rock score is as good (and dated) as anything Vince Di Cola and Survivor did for Messers Balboa and Drago. And i would defy even the most ardent of cynics not to root for Hawk in the movies macho encrusted arm wrestling finale. An efficient fammily/adventure movie, that is good to pass the time with, but for sheer class, watch the Rocky movies.

6/10

This had the potential to be a fair Sly action vehicle, but the writers (include Stallone here) had to bring in the kid and turn the story into a sloppy, cliched, family bonding film.

So we end up with the eminent Robert Loggia completely slumming it as the mean, irascible and extremely rich grandpa and have to put up with the bratty son Michael, who admittedly does look simply divine in that military school suit of his. (Military school? Seriously what were they thinking?) I do congratulate David Mendenhall however, for looking the part of an 11 or 12 year old. Apparently he was around 15 to 16 when the film was made, but really doesn't look like a teenager.

Ultimately, we get too many weirded out supporting characters, too many slow motion arm wrestle matches, arguably too many 80's soundtrack songs, too many melodramatic moments, too many Sly long faces and too little humour to lighten the soap opera quality of the drama being presented onscreen. Underwhelming to the extreme!

As an aside, another one of those movies, where the business person never seems to actually do any business. Here, Sly, a trucker, never seems to be carrying anything, anywhere to maintain his livelihood.

I challenge anyone to find a better arm wrestling movie.

Since becoming a professional arm wrestler and losing my ex-wife, this film has inspired me.

It's not easy being a single dad whilst trying to cope with the rising gas prices to keep my rig on the road.

I'm sure a lot of Americans find themselves in this position, and they too should benefit from this realistic docu-drama of the typical American man.

To anyone, who find themselves in a similar rut, or experience any type of bad luck, I thoroughly recommend renting this movie, and joining the local arm-wrestling club.

Like I said this is easily the best made arm-wrestling movie, and I look forward to perhaps a left-handed sequel.

Great movies from the 80s. Good acting, great story about a father trying to get closer to his son. One of those movies you never get bored to watch.

Are you kidding me? Sylvester Stallone in an arm-wrestling movie? Does it get any better than that? If your balls have not turned into steel after seeing this movie, you're either a woman or... that is the only explanation. Acting? Plot? Cinematography? Who cares? Enjoy 90 minutes of pure testosterone and corniness. "Over the top" is without a doubt the most fitting movie title ever. If you enjoy either movies from the 80s, anything that's over the top or just Sylvester Stallone's weird acting and awkward yet somehow touching speeches, than you're gonna have a great time watching this movie. However, if you're not a fan of said things, than you should probably stay away from this masterpiece.

This movie really touched base with me. I grew up not knowing my father, so I really felt for "Michael Cutler", played by David Mendenhall. This was the first thing I remembered seeing David in and I became a big fan of his thru this movie. I identified with his character so much.

If only there would have been a sequel to this movie. (+:

Can you name another movie that combines Truck driving, arm wrestling, and family problems. I can only think of one: Over the Top. Sure it is a bad movie, but a movie worth seeing. Stallone has been better but where else can you see a truck driver who arm wrestles and wants to make up for a long time. The music is pretty good also.

Despite having some flaws in the script, some unrealistic scenes and some nonsensical scenes, I find the film simply fantastic, every time I see it, it even looks better. Sylvester Stallone made a similar reprisal, the character Hawk (although not often seen this way) is a very complex character and is not anyone who interprets it; The film also had a great soundtrack and a practically perfect sound mix. Highly recommend.

"Over the Top" is one movie that can brighten up my friends' and my day after a tough day. It is a hilariously stupid movie filled with awkward character interactions and a script that could stink up the perfume shops in Nordstrom's (well, they smell bad enough anyway to me). We actually rent the movie and just make fun of it all the way to the ending credits, when the sheer cheese is capped by its own theme song, for goodness' sake! (It's titled "Over the Top." Surprise surprise.) Watching Sly groan and moan during his arm wrestling matches always brings smile to my face (well, it's a sneer, rather). The kid is the most annoying element of the movie. Oh yeah, and don't forget all of the supporting cast, including the REAL arm wrestling champion trucker guy (the bald guy who happened to be the best actor in the movie after all). You can't comprehend half of what Stallone says at first viewing, and one of the most hilarious part was when he was ranting and raving to a couple of goons driving away after an unsuccessful kidnapping attempt of Sly's son at a truck stop -- you just have to see it to understand what I'm saying here. Well, I guess that's just about everything I can say about this movie. It was a totally unimaginably dumb movie based on custody battle and arm wrestling (proved to be a deadly combination), and as long as you like making fun of movies and have a sense of humor, then go out and rent this movie! But please, do so with caution.

Stallone made his best in the 80's. These "forever young" movies like Cobra, Rambo and of course this one are the essence of an actor who made a lot of things possible for his fans. Stallone will never be Al Pacino, but we never wanted this. His character and face gives us everything in his well known films. Akction and emotion are together in Over the top too. Lincoln and his son's story are one of the best in the Cannon-Era. Directed by Menahem Golan with good cinematography and very good, retro soundtrack. It's more than 20 years since this movie came out but I still say, it's worth to see, and wonder how the peace full years of the 80's were! Great remembrance!

If we're being honest, this is a PERFECT title for this movie. Such an over the top premise, of a truck driver fighting for custody for their one spoiled kid, over arm wrestling.

So you think you've seen every movie about an arm wrestling truck driver absentee father road trip-bonding with his son who's just graduated from military school? Well, think again. This is one of Sylvester Stallone's most underrated movies. It gets a lot of flack because the premise sounds so ridiculous but it's actually a good little drama with some nice action of the arm wrasslin' variety. One of Cannon's more polished films. You'll learn everything you need to know about the power of wearing one's cap backwards and the eternal question of who exactly will the world meet halfway. Also some great rockin' tunes from the '80s! What's not to like about this movie?

Sylvester Stallone plays an underdog athlete getting his shot at the big-time and also a chance at redemption. No, this isn't Rocky Balboa. It's the story of Lincoln Hawk (an awesomely fake movie name), a truck driver/amateur arm-wrestler. In what is likely the worst "sports" movie of all time, Stallone tries to win back his son and win a big arm wrestling completion at the same time. Said competition is hilariously filled with 80s style professional wrestling types of characters who seems to grunt and sweat more than speak human words. Even more ridiculous is Stallone's secret arm wrestling move where he repositions his hand to defeat his opponents, which begs the question, way aren't all of the other arm wrestlers using this same move or coming up with some sort of counter move after having seem Sly go "over the top" several times during the picture? Whoever had the idea that audiences were clamoring for a film about the world of competitive arm wrestling was quite mistaken. That person was likely producer/director/studio head Menahem Golan. "Over the Top" has added entertainment value for me, having recently watched the documentary "Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films," which documented the rise and fall of Canon Films, including how this film's excesses contributed into Canon's eventual demise. Featuring wall-to-wall cheesy rock music (by the great Giorgio Moroder, no less) and non-stop product placements (everything from Alka-Seltzer to Pennzoil to BRUT cologne), this film is the typification of excess (or over-the-top, if you will) at it's most ridiculous. However, in the film's favor, I did get a lot of ironic entertainment value out of how mind boggling awful it is. I'll also say that I do honestly think Stallone is a good actor, despite what his detractors may say, even if it's hard to see it in this film. Although I gave this film two stars out of five, it really deserves much less. If your film is beat out at the box office opening weekend by "Mannequin," "Outrageous Fortune," and "Platoon," your film is likely not going to be a big success. Overall, if you're in the mood for a movie that's so-bad-it's-good, you might get ironic enjoyment from this nonsensical film.

An underrated film that is actually a family drama with an interesting story and good characters.

We follow Lincoln Hawk's efforts to bond with his son, a bond opposed by his grandfather who sees Lincoln as a failure.

Throughout the film, we see that not everything is so simple, Lincoln tries to be the best father possible and show his son that life brings successes and failures. Preparing for the arm wrestling competition, they travel in his truck to their destination.

Today, there are no more films like this, unfortunately. There are no films like this that are both entertaining and emotional. This kind of story captivates us with its simple charm, which shows us that there are people who care for their family exactly the way they should.

The film is actually a touching family drama full of emotions packed in the fun style of movies we used to see in the eighties.

A simple film full of emotions that shows what a father is ready to do for his son.

The cast is good, the film is well directed, and the soundtrack is great.

A film that celebrates family, sacrifice and love.

I was bored and so I scrolled though and found this movie. Much better than most of these new movies that are out there. This will take you back to a time where movies were nice and pure. A great heartwarming story. It may have been kind of scattered in the middle but it was all brought together in the end. I can't help but notice how all these bad reviews are saying it's terrible acting and this and that. The acting was par with what you would expect a standard 80's movie to be. Not over the top acting, but also not terrible like these people make it out to be. Definitely a good watch and something I thoroughly enjoyed.

I remember seeing this movie as a kid and back then I liked it fine. All I recall from the first viewing was Stallone really struggling in one of the arm wrestling matches. I caught it on TV again recently and couldn't recognize it. There was an exchange between Stallone and his son about driving a truck that was pretty interesting. In the story it worked to bond the estranged-genius son with his father but watching it is seemed like Stallone was trying to prove himself to people. As I was watching the beginning I kept thinking to myself 'Isn't this the arm wrestling movie?'. Sure enough arm wrestling was thrown in, in a contrived way and that basically took the movie off into another direction and tried to balance the father son aspect. Watching this movie now was almost unbearable.

This film is all about the thrill of seeing Stallone reveal his more 'sensitive' side. Not to mention the great scenes where he works out the rippling biceps of his 'wrestling arm' using an ingenious hand-weight pulley system in the cab of his truck. Sure it's cheesy, but this film does what any good 80s movie should. The part where he turns his cap backwards before a wrestling match is a highlight, symbolising some kind of metamorphosis from sensitive dad to macho man. What a great flick!