The world of professional arm wrestling is the focus of the 1987 action-drama film Over the Top, combining truck drivers, an estranged family, and Sylvester Stallone (who co-wrote the script with Stirling Silliphant).
As to be expected from a Stallone effort, the macho content is abundant and the poignant interplay between the arm-wrestling/trucker father (Stallone) and his mistrusting, alienated son (David Mendenhall) is predictable. Susan Blakely, as Stallone's terminally ill ex-wife, and Robert Loggia as the unscrupulous father-in-law, are effective, if a bit underused.
The "Rocky" parallels can't be missed, with Stallone as the overwhelming, misunderstood underdog who somehow overcomes all odds to triumph as well as winning over the estranged son.
The soundtrack features such performers as Sammy Hagar, Eddie Money, Kenny Loggins and Asia.
