Rocky Balboa: A Mad Mad Review

Here’s the history of the Rocky film franchise up to this point. Rocky, a knockout; Rocky II, winner in 3 rounds; Rocky III, winner in 10 rounds; Rocky IV, a draw; Rocky V, loss by knockout.
Based on the awful film that grounded the series in 1990, I was skeptical of Rocky VI when the film was initially announced. But I was warmed over by the previews and the film also won me over, but it won’t win any awards like the original.
Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) now in his 60s, wakes up every morning to visit his wife’s grave. Philadelphia has changed. The old neighborhood is deteriorating, as is the old champion and his friends.
He left the limelight, opened an Italian restaurant, and spends most of his time at work telling customers about the old days when he was fighting Apollo Creed.
At the same time, current heavyweight champion Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver) is no longer winning over audiences. He’s an arrogant young fighter who critics say has never really fought a real fight.
A computer simulated fight between Dixon and Balboa in his prime changes everything. The young Balboa takes out the animated Dixon in a knockout punch. That gets the old Balboa thinking, ‘maybe there’s more fight left in him.’
After appealing successfully to become a licensed fighter in Philly, Dixon’s managing team get an idea to put the two fighters toe-to-toe in the ring for an exhibition match, old school vs. new school.
Rocky follows a pretty standard three-chapter formula—Rocky decides to fight, Rocky trains to fight and Rocky fights.
What makes Rocky interesting is that it has heart, something every Rocky after Rocky II was missing.
As a fighter, Rocky is having a hard time getting old. He’s remembered for accomplishments that are long gone, and he’s haunted by memories of happier times. Fighting gives him purpose. Pain reminds him that he’s alive.
Rocky Balboa is not a great movie. It could never come close to mirroring the original’s ferocity. No matter how big Stallone is, it’s completely unbelievable that a 60-year-old fighter could step in the ring with a fighter in his prime and come out alive — especially since Rocky suffered brain damage in his fight with Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, ending his career in Rocky V.
But Rocky Balboa is a really good movie. While it’s formulaic, it’s a good formula and it’s worth checking out in the theater where you can hear and feel every punch.
Thankfully, Stallone did not bring back Rambo, (though I have read that Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra is in pre-production, and I have a feeling that won’t be as well received.)
But Rocky Balboa is a welcome film, especially this holiday season of slim pickings.