Over The Top

Directed by Menahem Golan, Over The Top follows Sylvester Stallone’s Lincoln Hawk as he sets out to win custody of his son, Michael (David Mendenhall), by participating in a lucrative arm-wrestling tournament. It’s a fairly absurd premise that’s employed to surprisingly watchable and entertaining effect by Golan, as the filmmaker, working from a script by Stirling Silliphant and Stallone, delivers a well-paced drama that benefits substantially from the predictably commanding work of its star – with Stallone’s engaging, sympathetic performance going a long way towards smoothing over the narrative’s periodic bumps and lulls. The movie’s mostly sedate atmosphere is, as a result, generally not as problematic as one might’ve assumed and anticipated, although it’s equally clear that Over The Top‘s hit-and-miss midsection suffers from a less-than-streamlined feel that’s reflected in its sporadic emphasis on pointedly padded-out sequences. (Golan compensates, for the most part, by peppering this portion of the proceedings with several compelling interludes, including Lincoln’s first encounter with his arm-wrestling nemesis and a surprisingly thrilling car chase.) By the time the genuinely exciting climax rolls around, Over The Top has cemented its place as a silly yet better-than-expected endeavor that’s certainly far more affable and enjoyable than its reputation might’ve indicated.

*** out of ****