IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
A down-on-his-luck music manager for the fictional rock band Kick finds his luck changing when he by mistake also starts managing a successful wrestling duo.A down-on-his-luck music manager for the fictional rock band Kick finds his luck changing when he by mistake also starts managing a successful wrestling duo.A down-on-his-luck music manager for the fictional rock band Kick finds his luck changing when he by mistake also starts managing a successful wrestling duo.
Dani Crayne
- Bitsy Vandervagen
- (as Dani Janssen)
Sione Vailahi
- Axe the Cannibal
- (as The Barbarian - Sione Vailahi)
Tom Kasat
- Hammer the Cannibal
- (as Tjioe Khan)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring the filming of final match, the crowd began to heckle the wrestlers because they could clearly see that their blows were faked. At that time, wrestlers publicly maintained that everything that they did in the ring was real. But the wrestlers had to pull their punches for the sake of being able to shoot multiple takes. Suddenly, a fight broke out between Roddy Piper and one of the Cannibals leading to a bloody brawl involving all of the wrestlers. Director Hal Needham, a former stuntman, jumped in to stop them but was tossed out of the ring. The brawl was eventually broken up leaving the audience, cast, and crew stunned. Later that day, Piper revealed to Dirk Benedict that the wrestlers had improvised the fight in order to get the audience to believe that wrestling was real again.
- GoofsDespite being attacked, the band's music keeps playing as if was meant to be a "live" performance. Despite the instruments being tossed around, the music keeps playing.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Wrestling with Wregret: Body Slam (2014)
- SoundtracksMy Body Keeps Changin' My Mind
Written by Leslie Pearl & Darryl E. Ross
Performed by Moses Tyson Jr.
Published by Michael O'Connor Music (BMI)
Produced by Darryl E. Ross for Rosswax Music Corp.
Featured review
Top-notch wrestling (plus rock 'n roll) comedy
My review was written in May 1987 after a Cannes Film Festival Market screening.
"Body Slam" is a pleasant surprise, a genuinely funny film that pokes fun at a scheming record industry manager while utilizing popular wrestlers to capture the spirit of the current pro wrestling renaissance.
Dirk Benedict is terrific as a glad-handing promoter, always one step ahead of the repo man. His music career failing, he lucks into managing a wrestler, Quick Rick Roberts (played by popular pro Rowdy Roddy Piper), and though creating a war with traditional managers quickly achieves success in this new field. Forced to book his rock group set in tandem with the wrestlers, he accidentally creates the rock 'n' wrestling craze.
Simple premise works because there is a load of humorous situations and slapstick, while the emphasis upon wrestling is not overpowering. As a result, pic's entertainment quotient is not limited to wrestling freaks. Conversely, the presence of an ecumenical grouping of wrestlers drawn from the various pro leagues is a treat for enthusiasts.
Besides Benedict, who exudes charm as the unscrupulous guy you can't resist, cast benefits from solid support turns by various comedians. In addition, Piper, who has retired from wrestling to pursue an acting career full time, is very sympathetic in a large role. Virtually parodying his larger-than-life manager persona, Captain Lou Albano is very funny as Piper's irate former mentor. Sam Fatu, who wrestles undr the name Tama, makes a good impression as Piper's tag team partner, while there are numerous other grapplers on display, including cameos by Ric Flair, Bruno Sammartino, the Samoans Afa & Sika, Freddie Blassie and Sheik Adnan Al Kaissy.
As Benedict's rock group, Kick shares the spotlight performing several okay musical numbers. David Wolff, who with Albano and his client Cyndi Lauper launched the rock 'n' wrestling connection three years ago, served as a consultant on the picture.
"Body Slam" marks a solid comeback for director Hal Needham, who gets the comedy timing down right and provides some effective stunts which keep the wrestling footage from merely regurgitating what is shown constantly on tv . Tech credits are pro.
"Body Slam" is a pleasant surprise, a genuinely funny film that pokes fun at a scheming record industry manager while utilizing popular wrestlers to capture the spirit of the current pro wrestling renaissance.
Dirk Benedict is terrific as a glad-handing promoter, always one step ahead of the repo man. His music career failing, he lucks into managing a wrestler, Quick Rick Roberts (played by popular pro Rowdy Roddy Piper), and though creating a war with traditional managers quickly achieves success in this new field. Forced to book his rock group set in tandem with the wrestlers, he accidentally creates the rock 'n' wrestling craze.
Simple premise works because there is a load of humorous situations and slapstick, while the emphasis upon wrestling is not overpowering. As a result, pic's entertainment quotient is not limited to wrestling freaks. Conversely, the presence of an ecumenical grouping of wrestlers drawn from the various pro leagues is a treat for enthusiasts.
Besides Benedict, who exudes charm as the unscrupulous guy you can't resist, cast benefits from solid support turns by various comedians. In addition, Piper, who has retired from wrestling to pursue an acting career full time, is very sympathetic in a large role. Virtually parodying his larger-than-life manager persona, Captain Lou Albano is very funny as Piper's irate former mentor. Sam Fatu, who wrestles undr the name Tama, makes a good impression as Piper's tag team partner, while there are numerous other grapplers on display, including cameos by Ric Flair, Bruno Sammartino, the Samoans Afa & Sika, Freddie Blassie and Sheik Adnan Al Kaissy.
As Benedict's rock group, Kick shares the spotlight performing several okay musical numbers. David Wolff, who with Albano and his client Cyndi Lauper launched the rock 'n' wrestling connection three years ago, served as a consultant on the picture.
"Body Slam" marks a solid comeback for director Hal Needham, who gets the comedy timing down right and provides some effective stunts which keep the wrestling footage from merely regurgitating what is shown constantly on tv . Tech credits are pro.
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- lor_
- Apr 20, 2023
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $14,926
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,520
- Nov 23, 1986
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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![Tanya Roberts, Dirk Benedict, and John Fujioka in Body Slam (1986)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzczM2RlYzEtNjJlNi00OGQ2LTg4ZTEtYzQ3NzE3YjEyYTkzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzc5MjA3OA@@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,1,90,133_.jpg)