Rocky Balboa (2006)

After ending things on a bad note with Rocky V, Sylvester Stallone let his pugilist franchise lie dormant for a decade and a half. The announcement of a brand new, final installment caught many by surprise. How could Stallone, flirting with 60 at the time, possibly think another Rocky film was a good idea? How could any film involving a post-middle aged boxer work on any level? Expectations were low, so is it any wonder that Rocky Balboa surpasses them?

Almost two decades into retirement, Rocky’s life is only a few steps up from where he left off in Rocky V. He owns a restaurant in Philadelphia, where he tells patrons about his glory days as a boxer. His beloved wife, Adrian, passed away a few years ago and his son Robert is trying to make it on his own in the corporate world without any help from his dad. This leaves Balboa alone in his small home in the city. His constant reminiscing is finally growing to bother his brother-in-law, Paulie, but living in the past has become a staple of the former champion’s day-to-day existence.

When ESPN runs a virtual boxing simulation of current and past champions, Rocky Balboa (in his prime) tops the current champion, Mason “The Line” Dixon (Antonio Tarver). Inspired by this fresh taste of glory, Balboa applies for a new boxing license just to see if he still has anything in the tank. Everyone thinks he’s crazy but Dixon’s manager proposes an exhibition match between the two. Rocky calls together the old gang to help get his body into fighting shape.

Is the premise completely ridiculous? Of course it is. What current boxing champion would have the gall to challenge a near retirement-age man to even an exhibition match? Win and you’re scum for beating an old man. Lose and you’re a phony who got beat by an old man. This would never happen in real life, but it’s Rocky we’re talking about here, so nothing is impossible!

As unlikely as this film may be, this is the conclusion Rocky fans had hoped for all along. Rocky Balboa hearkens back to the original in many ways: Rocky is given a chance to prove himself against a current champion in an exhibition match; he goes through all the old-school training exercises to get ready for the fight; he battles feelings of loneliness and uncertainty leading up to the fight; and he leaves it all in the ring. It’s not a carbon copy of the original (that would have been met with derision), but the similarities are many.

I don’t think Stallone was looking to replicate the magic of the original but it is clear that he is nostalgic for it. I think Rocky Balboa was made partly under the assumption that moviegoers and fans of the series would be nostalgic for most of the Rocky saga as well. Stallone capitalizes on this by dishing out dozens of references to the character’s journey and legacy. Sometimes characters reminisce about moments from past films. Other times new things are happening in familiar locations. And then there are the subtle things- stances, framing and a number of non-verbal elements that remind you of how much you enjoyed the early movies.

The script has its shaky parts and the film moves at a sluggish pace until Rocky sees the virtual fight on TV but once we get to the crux of the matter, it’s full steam ahead. The boxing scenes have always been done well throughout the series and Rocky Balboa is no exception. I’m sure it took some careful choreography and editing to make it seem like Rocky is truly able to keep pace with his younger opponent. Yes, Stallone bulked up for the role but you have to wonder how hard film was on his aging body. The illusion is grand though, making Rocky a believable hero once more.

The absence of Adrian doesn’t hurt the film quite like you would expect. Mrs. Balboa was always Rocky’s moral center and the source of his inspiration. Rocky is in a bit of a lurch, especially with his son trying to avoid association with him but he finds inspiration from an unlikely source- a neighborhood woman who was just a trouble-making kid when Rocky first rose to prominence. Their friendship builds awkwardly, but it helps keep the formula fresh. Rocky has an outlet for his frustration and innermost thoughts and a personal side project all in one. It’s not a romantic relationship like the one he had with Adrian but it’s all he needs to keep his mind in the fight.

It doesn’t soar to the heights of the original but Rocky Balboa more than makes up for Rocky V’s laughable almost-ending to the series. The formerly larger-than-life megaplex hero is brought back to size but still gives him the chance to puff his chest with pride. I don’t know if Rocky Balboa ends the series just right but it does end it well. It’s a familiar ending that drapes our beloved boxer with the kind of dignity that has been lacking from the franchise since Rocky II. That alone makes the film worth it.

RATING: 3.25 out of 5

Rocky V (1990)

After years of training montages, marathon fights and perfectly-timed comebacks, Rocky Balboa finally hangs up the gloves (but only for 16 years). This was originally the last installment of the Rocky series and it has been an object of scorn and ridicule since its release. Universally panned as the worst film of the franchise, I had always wondered whether or not Rocky V deserved all the animosity. Having finally seen it, I have my answer.

The film picks up immediately after Rocky’s triumph over Ivan Drago in Russia. In the locker room, something is seriously wrong with Rocky. The iron-fisted soviet all but turned Balboa’s brain into mush. Doctors discover brain damage and tell the Italian Stallion that his career is over- one more fight could kill him. Upon returning to America, Rocky and Adrian discover their lives are in ruin. Adrian’s brother Paulie signed over power of attorney to their accountant, who squandered all of their money away. Their lives now in the gutter, the Balboa’s move back to the slums from whence they came.

Retaining possession of Mickey’s gym, Rocky uses it as a meager source of income. This turns out to be a blessing when a talented up-and-comer from Oklahoma named Tommy Gunn seeks Rocky out for training. Rocky guides his pupil along the road to stardom but Tommy is coaxed away by the allure of superstardom at the hands of a slimy big-time promoter. When this backfires, Tommy seeks Balboa out in an attempt to break out from under his former mentor’s shadow.

I was surprised to find myself enjoying this film for much of its runtime. Unlike die-hard Rocky fans, I liked the move away from the standard Rocky format. Watching Rocky struggle to build himself back up and deal with family issues was a breath of fresh air for a series that had become a joke. Had this film been just another road map to yet another unfathomable victory, I’d like to think that people would finally start to catch on. I mean, Balboa defeated the world’s ultimate fighter in Ivan Drago and melted hearts across the USSR. What could you possibly expect him to do next?

In all likelihood, no matter what the content, Rocky V was doomed from the start. There was nowhere further up the great chain of being for Rocky to climb, so he had to go down. Nobody likes seeing their heroes get older and fail, so I understand why Rocky’s freefall back into the slums of Philadelphia irritated so many. But character development demands some sacrifices and I think Stallone got it right by having Rocky develop a new fighter much in his own image.

Tommy Gunn is, at first, a likeable guy. He is determined and thirsty for knowledge. It’s clear that, despite the brain damage, Rocky is a pretty good teacher and trainer, ensuring that Tommy doesn’t try to jump too far too fast. Training Tommy takes over Rocky’s life and he loses touch with his son. Usually I abhor family bonding subplots but this one makes sense and it works. Rocky isn’t exactly the brightest crayon in the box so it’s understandable that he could get that kind of tunnel vision. It’s not that he’s a lazy parent, he’s just dumb like that.

Having become so close with the world of professional boxing while making the previous four films, Sylvester Stallone seems to be imparting some judgment on the million-dollar hype machine that evolved over the years. There are sleazy promoters using naïve talent for personal gain and plenty of underlings and material possessions at their disposal to lure boxers away from the noble path. It makes me laugh to suggest that boxing is in any way a noble profession but Rocky does represent the untainted side of the sport. He tries his best to instill virtue into his protégé but the snakes win out. I can’t help but wonder if this film opened a few eyes to the dark side of boxing, leading to its rapid decline in popularity by the end of the 90s. Or maybe they were as miffed as I was with the way this boxing movie ended and gave up on the sport altogether.

Rocky V is one of those rare films that completely blows it all in the last act. Up until an idiotic teacher-vs.-student street fight, this film was pretty good. Nothing overly remarkable, but at least worth watching. Then, as Tommy Gunn takes on his mentor in an attempt to prove himself the better fighter, Rocky, gives us something even better than a training montage (and by better I mean ordering filet mignon and getting chicken nuggets)- a rousing barrage of flashbacks to all of his best come-from behind moments and even a visit from the ghost of his old trainer Mickey! With that, our middle-aged hero defeats the young man for the hollowest victory of the series.

For 16 years, the remained as the last film of the series and I’m sure Stallone spent those years looking at this film trying to figure out where he went wrong. Sabotaged by a schlocky ending, Rocky V is actually a decent film. Some of the character growth elements would be recycled to better effect in the redemptive and final sequel, Rocky Balboa. It’s really your choice as to whether you want to acknowledge this rough draft of a finale or skip right over to the finished copy.

RATING: 2.25 out of 5

The Happening (2008)

For months, this film was hyped up to be one of the big event films of the summer. Boasting a talented lead actor and a decent supporting crew, this was M. Night Shyamalan’s first R-rated film. After a pair of films that received lukewarm receptions, it seemed that Shyamalan was laying it all on the table. That could only be a good sign right?

A wave of suicidal behavior, beginning in Central Park, sweeps through New York City, causing mass hysteria. Soon enough, more major cities in the northeast are affected. Is it bio-terrorists? Chemical warfare? Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), a science teacher in Philadelphia, isn’t going to wait around to find out. He shuttles his wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel), along with his colleague Julian (John Leguizamo) and Julian’s daughter Jess onto a train headed for Harrisburg. He hopes that moving away from the urban center will eliminate their risk of exposure to whatever is killing people.

The train stops mid-route because all radio contact has been lost with both Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Julian hitches a ride headed for New Jersey to see if he can find his wife, who is stuck in Princeton. Elliot, Alma, Jess and the others find little time to relax as people start succumbing to the mysterious ailment. It seems nowhere is safe, forcing the trio and a few others to flee across suburban and rural landscapes in an attempt to stay one step ahead of certain death.

The mystery behind the killing phenomenon in The Happening is really quite good. In fact, the idea is brilliant- have people running from something they can’t see, hear, touch, taste or smell. Shymalan did wonders with delivering terror from unknown sources in the past, so I can see why he returned to this theme. The problem lies in the execution. When the only thing a film has going for it is its gorgeous scenery, you know there’s a problem.

Less than a week before the film premiered, M. Night Shyamalan stated in an interview that the film was an excellent B movie, which was his intent. This was probably news to the marketing department at 20th Century Fox, because they were putting out very serious-toned advertisements. Perhaps if it had been marketed as a B movie that shouldn’t be taken seriously, moviegoers would have responded more kindly. That strategy worked for Snakes on a Plane and the recent Piranha 3D but those films didn’t even take themselves seriously, let alone expect the audience to. The Happening sends out mixed signals that don’t mesh with the director’s prospective damage control comments.

The biggest disappointment is the reason for the killing phenomenon. Plants, which can evidently produce toxins to eliminate threats in more isolated environments (science, please!), gang up on the human race and unleash a wave of neurotoxins capable of mass extinction. This is proposed as a solution early on and is adopted pretty swiftly by Elliot, so I have no shame in revealing it here. Besides, if spoiling the cause prevents you from seeing this film, you can thank me later. This leads to a lot of ridiculous worried glances being cast towards any number of plants for much of the film.

Almost as disappointing as the chlorophyll-composed killers is the acting. Mark Wahlberg was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in The Departed, so his performance here boggles the mind. His delivery is like that of a hopeless wannabe not even fit for the Z-List of acting talent. Zooey Deschanel dispenses her typically vacant performance except this is not a film where that will work. It seems like she can only portray awkwardness, rather than fear and sadness. The chemistry between her and Wahlberg is paper thin at best, making it hard to buy into the rebuilding of their strained relationship.

There are also a lot of things that don’t make any sense. For instance, people take refuge inside homes and other buildings to escape the neurotoxins in the air. Correct me if I’m wrong, but won’t those neurotoxins find their way into the air ducts of that house? It’s not like the angel of death passing you by because there’s blood on your doorjamb. But hey, if an everyday household air filter can put the brakes on the end of the world, I’d like to buy some stock in whoever makes those things.

If the film had been played up for laughs rather than being unintentionally funny, I could buy into the B-movie bit. The Happening could have been an amusing romp through 50s and 60s era paranoia-film nostalgia. Too bad for everyone involved that the film starts out acting all serious and dramatic. You can’t put up that kind of front and then yell ‘psych!’

I’ve enjoyed all of M. Night Shyamalan’s films on some level up until now. It’s sad to see a once-bright star go dim but I’d like to think this is just a momentary flicker. In a few years M. Night will be back on top again, stunning us all.

RATING: 1.25 out of 5