Runtime: 93 minutes
Directed by: Menahem Golan
Starring: Sly Stallone, Robert Loggia, Susan Blakely, David Mendenhall, Terry Funk (RIP)
From: Cannon
RIP Terry Funk. As the type of pro wrestling fan who still follows the inner workings of the industry despite not watching the modern product (due to how atrocious much of it has become), I have to say a few words about Funk. He modified his persona and due to him being tougher than shoe leather, wrestled off and on for half a century despite wrestling in some insanely violent matches in the 90's while he was in his 50's. He could always wrestle and had such a great character, this was why he was so beloved by so many. He was also a very nice man outside the ring; I actually met him once & purchased one of his t-shirts but that will be discussed at the end. While he was in poor health for awhile, his death still upset a lot of people... both wrestlers and fans say that he was their favorite of all time.
As for his acting career, he also did that off and on... for the health insurance benefits. You see, you aren't offered that even today in the large organizations like WWE, but I'd rather not open that can of worms! I've already reviewed Road House (where Funk played Morgan) and don't need to discuss that again so I instead went with this cheesetastic 80's film which seemingly tried to popularize arm wrestling by having the final act taking place at that niche sport's World Championships in Las Vegas—it didn't work. Funk played one of the henchmen/bodyguards for Robert Loggia, whose character was a rich jerk that tries to keep his 12 year old grandson from Stallone's truck driver/arm wrestling character Lincoln Hawk... which is an amazing name. Why exactly is he referred to as “Hawks” on several occasions? Beats me! Is it a surprise to hear that Loggia played a real A-hole... now there's an easier question to answer.
The film is silly nonsense-yet still earnest-filled with cliches from better stories-to borrow a phrase-as Linc tries to befriend his son Michael despite Loggia's best attempts. There's also a sick mother (there are more tearjerker moments than expected), other arm wrestlers that are so... over the top that they might as well be pro wrestlers* , Hawk committing property damage, a Moroder score, and songs from 80's artists which are mostly only OK but Sammy Hagar's Winner Takes it All was the clear highlight. Speaking of the songs, this was watched on Prime and they obviously used the International version of the film. Besides the captions using the UK spelling of certain words, the opening tune was sung by Eddie Money instead of by Robin Zander of Cheap Trick-like me from the Rockford area of Illinois. I have NO idea why any of that happened, BTW.
This is the sort of film where the World Championships in arm wrestling purportedly has a “trucker's division.” I rolled with that, Michael's snotty attitude in the opening act, the sweaty action in the final act, & more. I was entertained, in other words. As for meeting Terry Funk in person, it was when Mom had just moved to Florida but I was still in college in Illinois and Dad hadn't moved down either (long story). I was on vacation here and went to a Major League Wrestling show in Orlando. Funk was selling merchandise and along with purchasing a shirt-signed by him-I briefly chatted with him. I'm happy for that moment along with getting to see him compete against another legendary wrestler, Abdullah the Butcher.
* this briefly featured Scott Norton, of later Japan and WCW fame but at the time was an arm wrestler; the World Championship also had a women's division that wasn't focused on. One of those competitors was Reggie Bennett, a rather stout lady wrestler who mainly competed in Japan in the 90's when that was a big deal in wrestling.
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