OVERVIEW: Past-their-prime boxers pack a comic punch in “Grudge Match,” arriving onto Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on April 8 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. “Grudge Match” stars Oscar® winner Robert De Niro (“Raging Bull,” “Silver Linings Playbook”) and Oscar® nominee Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky” films, “The Expendables”) as old boxing rivals who come out of retirement for one final match. 

“Grudge Match” will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack and on DVD. The Blu-ray Combo Pack features the theatrical version of the film in hi-definition on Blu-ray, and the DVD features the theatrical version in standard definition. Both include a digital version of the movie on Digital HD with UltraViolet.* Fans can also own “Grudge Match” in Digital HD on April 8 via purchase from digital retailers.

SYNOPSIS: In “Grudge Match,” Billy “The Kid” McDonnen (De Niro) and Henry “Razor” Sharp (Stallone) are two local Pittsburgh fighters whose fierce rivalry put them in the national spotlight. Each had scored a victory against the other during their heyday, but in 1983, on the eve of their decisive third match, Razor suddenly announced his retirement, refusing to explain why but effectively delivering a knock-out punch to both their careers. Thirty years later, boxing promoter Dante Slate, Jr., seeing big dollar signs, makes them an offer they can’t refuse: to re-enter the ring and settle the score once and for all. 

But they may not have to wait that long: on their first encounter in decades, their long-festering feud erupts into an unintentionally hilarious melee that instantly goes viral. The sudden social media frenzy transforms their local grudge match into a must-see HBO event. Now, if they can just survive the training, they may actually live to fight again.

FILM REVIEW: For those of you that were on the edge of your seats awaiting the next Sylvester Stallone release (I can’t imagine who you are), this would be it! However, for those of us that have seen him morph one too many times in an attempt to return to his glory days on the big screen, we say enough is enough “Rocky!” The Rocky Balboa eighties’ star teams up with Robert De Niro (Jake LaMotta's memoir Raging Bull: My Story), Kevin Hart (This Is the End, 2013), Alan Arkin (Marley & Me, 2008) and Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead – TV series), in this slapstick style comedy “Grudge Match.” This is a flick that can only be compared to the likeness of 1993’s “Grumpy old men.” Resulting in what feels a little like watching Rocky Balboa and Jake LaMotta having a go at it. I would even dare to say that this is the direct result of when Hollywood goes frequently rummaging through its creative dumpster for never-ending sequels, remakes and associative efforts.

On the bright side, "Grudge Match" sets the right tone, embracing a nice balance of crowd-pleasing comedy and lightweight family drama and adding nothing too overwhelming in terms of substance. Stallone in particular seems to be making a legitimate effort, to show off his softer side to Hollywood; Though, I can’t say that it really made a huge impact on the outcome of the flick. Nevertheless, the supporting actors are solid throughout, with Kevin Hart adding a welcomed youthful edge to the comedy, as their desperately broke fight promoter. Arkin and Bernthal are solid contributors as Razor's (Stallone) aging trainer and the latter playing The Kid's (De Niro) estranged son.

One more point to make for this latest Stallone effort: The post-credits sequence involving Hart's next fight is one of the best in recent memory. I’ll give nothing else away, except to say that it's pretty close in greatness to "The Avengers" end-of-credits promo. 

All-in-all, the movie is not the huge blockbuster material we have come to expect from the leading men in “Grudge Match;” However, it does present some level of satisfaction in the area of comedic prowess. Without Hart’s signature style comedy I would have probably been forced to regard it as a “flop;” However, I’d give it three out of five stars simply based on Hart’s ability to carry the film from beginning to end.

BLU-RAY: The film is presented in widescreen in a 2.40:1 aspect ration preserving its theatrical format. The picture is just flawless. Not only the picture looks great in this release, also the sound it is good, a 5.1 Dolby Digital in English that provides a good complement to the picture. It also includes  English, French  and Spanish subtitles.

VIDEO:
Widescreen (2.40:1) 16x9

AUDIO:
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS Dolby Digital 5.1 (English); DTS Digital Surround
5.1 (Spanish- French)

Subtitles - English Spanish French

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Blu-ray™ disc unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring perfect hi-def picture and hi-def sound. 

DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away. 

Digital Copy provides consumers with a choice of formats from a variety of partners, including options to watch on iPhone®,
iPad®, Android, computers and more.

UltraViolet™ is the revolutionary way for consumers to collect their movies and TV shows in the cloud. UltraViolet™ lets
consumers instantly stream and download to tablets, smartphones, computers and TVs. Now available in both the United States
and Canada.

Race· The Bull & The Stallion

In the Ring with Kevin Hart

Ringside with Tyson & Holyfield

Blow for Blow with Larry Holmes 

Kevin Hart Unedited

Alternate Opening

Alternate Endings with an Introduction by Peter Segal

Deleted Scenes