Watch Body Slam
- PG
- 1987
- 1 hr 29 min
-
5.2 (1,327)
The 1986 American comedy film, Body Slam, is a feel-good flick that will tickle your funny bone with its hilarious one-liners, impressive wrestling moves, and some great eighties music. Dirk Benedict stars as M. Harry Smilac, a music promoter who is struggling to make ends meet, and has been unable to sign any big acts. One day, he stumbles upon a wrestling match, and he gets the inspiration to use wrestling as his next music promotion gimmick. He proposes to become a wrestling promoter, and being a man with charm, he convinces the famous wrestler, Quick Rick Roberts (played by Roddy Piper), to join him.
For the mission, Smilac and his team scout for new talent, and they come across the lovely Candace (played by Tanya Roberts), who captures his heart through an awkward exchange with a vending machine. Candace is a rocker who wants to be bigger, but no one knows her. Smilac offers her a deal and convinces her to be the lead singer of his latest band.
Smilac's strategy is to combine his promotional work with wrestling events, giving the audience an ultimate experience of wrestling and rock music. However, he gets into trouble when he has to face the ruthless wrestling promoter Captain Lou Albano (played by "himself") who sees Smilac as a threat to his monopoly on wrestling events.
Captain Albano makes his life difficult, making it impossible for him to score venues and airtime on TV. After being beaten down many times, Smilac comes up with a new plan. He pitches the idea of a charity wrestling match, and the winner gets to take on Quick Rick Roberts, the biggest wrestler of them all. Smilac and the team see the potential in the idea and use all their contacts to put on the match. However, things do not go as planned as Captain Lou Albano continues to interfere with their plans.
Body Slam is an enjoyable flick that fans of wrestling and eighties comedy should watch. The plot of the movie is straightforward, as it nudges to the idea that a man who is down on his luck and finds a passion for something can never fail. Even more, it is the perfect mix of rock music and wrestling, which creates an ambiance of energy, excitement, and a fun atmosphere.
The cast of the movie is incredible, and the actors bring out the best in their roles, which adds to the storyline's entertainment value. Dirk Benedict portrays M. Harry Smilac so well that it makes him unforgettable in the film. Smilac's personality is infectious, and it's easy to see how everyone gets drawn to his charm. Tanya Roberts makes her character, Candace, a strong and independent woman who wants to be recognized for her talents. Not only does she look the part of a lead singer, but she also delivers some killer songs throughout the movie.
The wrestling champion, Quick Rick Roberts, played by Roddy Piper, showed his talents outside the wrestling ring bringing his larger-than-life personality and charisma to the movie. The late Piper proved that he is not only a wrestler but also an actor capable of bringing the laughs to the screen.
Body Slam also has a fantastic soundtrack filled with rock songs from eighties bands like The Tubes, Krokus, and Foreigner. The music selection complements the plot, and the tunes are catchy enough to have you humming them for days after watching the movie.
One of the highlights of the movie is the action scenes. The wrestling matches bring out Rick Roberts' best in dangerous moves like bodyslams, suplexes, arm drags, and more. The wrestling action is well choreographed, and the moves are executed perfectly.
Another good thing going for this movie is that it doesn't take itself seriously, mixing comedy with drama and action, giving us an enjoyable film that is nonsensical but has a heart.
In conclusion, Body Slam is a feel-good comedy that is both entertaining and fun. The plot may seem typical, but the execution, actors, soundtrack, and wrestling action make it a great movie that fans of wrestling, comedy, and eighties movies will enjoy.
Body Slam is a 1987 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.