Stallone also unsuccessfully attempted roles in different genres . He wrote and starred in the comedy film Rhinestone ( 1984 ) where he played a wannabe country music singer and the drama film Over the Top ( 1987 ) where he played a truck driver who enters an arm wrestling competition to impress his estranged son . He also attempted , albeit unsuccessfully , roles in different genres when he co-wrote and starred in the comedy film Rhinestone ( 1984 ) where he played a wannabe country music singer and the drama film Over the Top ( 1987 ) where he played a struggling trucker who , after the death of his wife , tries to make amends with his son who he left behind years earlier .