Over the Top (1987)
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A long-haul truck driver attempts to win back his estranged son by competing in a world arm-wrestling championship.
The story
Lincoln Hawk is a truck driver who competes in arm wrestling for extra cash. After leaving his family ten years ago, he is asked by his estranged wife, Christina, to pick up their young son, Michael, from military school and build a relationship with him. However, Christina's wealthy father, Jason Cutler, opposes the reunion and believes Hawk has no right to be in the boy's life. During a road trip from Colorado to California, the two begin to bond, but the journey is complicated by Michael's initial distrust and the looming shadow of Cutler's influence.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Lincoln Hawk, a truck driver and amateur arm wrestler, is tasked by his dying wife, Christina, to reconnect with their estranged son, Michael, who is at military school. While traveling from Colorado to California, Hawk and Michael begin to bond, but they are opposed by Christina's wealthy father, Jason Cutler. After Christina dies during surgery, Michael blames Hawk for the delay and leaves for Cutler's estate. Hawk is later arrested for trespassing on Cutler's property. To regain custody of Michael, Hawk agrees to sign over his rights as a condition for dropping charges. Hawk then heads to Las Vegas to compete in the World Armwrestling Championship, hoping to win prize money to start a trucking company. He places a massive bet on himself against the undefeated champion, Bull Hurley. During the tournament, Michael discovers that Cutler had manipulated his parents' relationship and finds Hawk. After a series of matches and a brief injury, Hawk reaches the finals. Cutler offers Hawk a large sum of money to stay away from Michael, but Hawk refuses. With Michael's emotional support, Hawk defeats Hurley in a long match. The two then drive off together to start a new life.
- First release year
- 1987
- Runtime (minutes)
- 93
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Menahem Golan
- Writers
- Stirling Silliphant · screenplay; Sylvester Stallone · screenplay; Gary Conway · story; David C. Engelbach · story
- Cast and characters
- Sylvester Stallone · Lincoln "Linc" Hawk; Robert Loggia · Jason Cutler; Susan Blakely · Christina Hawk; David Mendenhall · Michael "Mike" Hawk; Rick Zumwalt · Bob "Bull" Hurley; Chris McCarty · Tim Salanger; Terry Funk · Ruker; Bruce Way · John Grizzly
- Genres
- sports drama; drama; road movies; action drama
- Themes
- Father-son reconciliation; Persistence; Overcoming adversity
- Tone and mood
- Dramatic; Sentimental; Cheesy
- Premise and plot tags
- Road Movie; Sports Drama; Family Drama
- Reception
- The film was a box-office bomb and received middling reviews from critics, though it has since developed a cult following.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Supporting Actor · 1988 · Win; Golden Raspberry Award · Worst New Star · 1988 · Win; Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Actor · 1988 · Nomination
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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