Both Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone got early career praise for their turns as big screen pugilists. De Niro nabbed his second Oscar win for portraying the complicated and oft vicious Jake La Motta in the now-classic Martin Scorsese film "Raging Bull" and Sly, well, he's still pumping out those "Rocky" movies, the first one of which earned him his only two Academy noms way back in '77.
So, the story of "Grudge Match" bringing back the aged scamps for another round in the ring thirty-plus years after their heydays isn't too far off the mark, actually.
Ding ding ding!
Presenting the first trailer for the comedic bout, featuring the two leads as a pair of old rivals who never quite settled the score on who was the better boxer since their series abruptly ended with a one-to-one tie.
In the left corner we have Sly as "Razor" Sharp, who slipped in his retirement notice just after taking down his opponent so many years ago in a retribution match, and in the right is Robby D's "The Kid," whose trainer is his own wayward kid (Jon Bernthal).
These old school contenders were only meant to punch it up a little bit for a video game, but bad blood runs thick — and hilarious viral videos produce cash money opportunities sometimes — so they're back in the ring for an expo fight.
"Grudge Match" marks the first time De Niro and Stallone have shared the screen since 1997's "Cop Land," but this will be a much funnier affair, you can count on that. Consider their brand of sh*t-talking.
So, let's get ready to rumbleeeeeeeeeeeee!
Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin and Kim Basinger also star in the film, which theaters on Christmas Day.
