When we put emotions on the line
Know that we are the timeless ones"
Valentine's Day may be over but the love train continues here on Cobra Kai!
Flowers, chocolate, nice bottle of wine, fancy dinner, arm wrestling movies..all of us celebrate love in different ways. Kenny Loggins was the king of 80's soundtracks. Caddyshack, Footloose, Top Gun and one of my favs, Over the Top. Ironically the song Over the Top was sung by Sammy Hagar but Meet My Halfway is the main theme or mantra of the film (in fact if you watch the below trailer this line is mentioned twice. They really wanted to hammer that message in!) As with most 80's movies, the main theme echoes throughout the film usually instrumental at first, perhaps a bit slowed down version and then when the movie is about to take off.... bring it all together and kick in those vocals! Such a powerful trick that movies of this time constantly pulled out of their hat's...and I loved it.
Stallone was on a red hot streak at this time and I watched whatever he starred in (Much love for Cobra!) Even to this day when I'm on the highway and see truck drivers I kind of hope they're making their way cross-country, having arm wrestling matches in the back of truck stops on the way to Las Vegas for the championship. Could be true?
If you're unfamiliar with the plot, a mom is dying of cancer so has her estranged truck driver husband (Stallone) pick up their son at military school so they can drive cross country to see her and get to know each other on the way. Not only does Stallone want to be a better father, but he also wants to win an arm wrestling championship so he can start his own trucking company. Oh yeah the son has a wealthy grandfather who despises Stallone and tries to kidnap him throughout the film. Sounds amazing right? I re-watched this early on in the pandemic and I have to say it holds up really well. It's got a big budget, killer soundtrack, and a great final villain. I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's the best arm wrestling movie ever made. The film made such an impression on me that in a college public speaking course when we had to read any dialogue that emitted emotion I recited a few lines from Lincoln Hawk (Stallone's character) ..and yes I ended up getting an A. Don't let the arm wrestling deter you from watching, this one's got heart and I think you'll enjoy it.
On a sad note I'd like to say RIP to Prince Markie Dee formally of The Fat Boys. Going to have to watch 1987's classic flick Disorderlies again soon out of respect. Remember that time the Fat Boys and The Beach Boys (not the Brian Wilson version) teamed up to sing Wipeout? No? Well check it out below. Cheers everyone!
