Director – Maureen Bharoocha (Edith!, Crank Yankers)
Starring – Mary Holland (Between Two Ferns: The Movie, Mapleworth Murders), Betsy Sodaro (Hubie Halloween, An American Pickle), and Olivia Stambouliah (The Walking Dead, Hiding)
Release Date – 2020
Rating – 4/5
I’ve really been enjoying myself the last week or so watching all the movies that Vinegar Syndrome has released or was released by one of their partner labels. As a collector I really appreciate the wide spread of releases that Vin Syn brings to use each and every month. However, my wife and bank account doesn’t appreciate all that they give.
When they announced the newest releases from their partner labels one release really caught my eye and that was the 2020 comedy Golden Arm. The artwork really put me in mind of The FP so I pulled the trigger on the pre-order. After checking out Through the Fire I wanted to finish my night with something a little more light so I tossed in Golden Arm. Glad I did because it was a lot of fun.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows the truck driving Danny (Sodaro) who is a competitive female arm wrestler who injures her arm in a match with a rival competitor. Her injury puts her out of the upcoming tournament and determined not to let her rival win she turns to her college friend to compete. She reluctantly agrees to join the competition and quickly makes a name for herself with many suspecting she has a golden arm. Things, however, take an unsuspecting turn when she finds love and discovers that Danny’s arm was not actually hurt. With their friendship on the rocks they overcome their differences to focus on the competition. **Spoiler Alert**
I was more curious about Golden Arm than anything and I have to admit that the movie did not disappoint. It has one of the best casts I had ever seen and the story did not disappoint. It did make me chuckle a few days along with a few serious laughs. It was a very enjoyable film and I can see this is one I toss on when I need some background noise in the future. I don’t see myself becoming bored with it.
The acting in this one is absolutely phenomenal. Mary Holland as the reluctant golden arm is brilliant. She’s so shy, innocent, and cute but still is able to kick ass in an unbelievable way. My favorite character in the film was portrayed by Betsy Sodaro. Her character made the film and reminded me of some of my friends from college. It was so much fun watching her on screen and without Sodara this film wouldn’t be as fun as it is. The supporting cast is great as well. The characters are all bigger than the screen itself and everyone carries their own weight.
The story for this one does remind me a lot of The FP laid over the Stallone classic Over the Top. We get an unusual sport with wild and colorful characters like you would see in The FP. I tried not to compare it to Over the Top when I started writing this but the similarities are too much to ignore. It was a lot of fun and the comedy mixes nicely with the story. I found myself smiling for most of the film and flat out laughing at others.
Finally, this is not a bloody or gory mess like most of us love. The film focuses on the characters and the humor. The laughs work and the comedic timing is damn near perfect. Overall, Golden Arm was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it and I can see myself running it into the ground without ever tiring of it. It’s a lot of fun and I highly recommend that you check it out.
