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

Rocky IV (1985)

Rocky Balboa has led quite a life. First he’s a working schlep plucked out of nowhere fighting for nothing but pride. Then he gets a shot at fighting for a title and the respect that comes with it. Then, while at the top of his game he stumbles and fights for honor and self-respect. Nothing is bigger than that, right? Wrong! Rocky’s latest outing sees him carrying his country on his shoulders and fighting for political and patriotic glory.

The Soviet Union has produced a boxing giant named Ivan Drago and they are shopping around the USA for opponents to crush. He trains using the latest high-tech tools, making him an almost inhuman challenger to the US’s boxing elite. Dying to prove he’s still got what it takes, Apollo Creed lets his ego get the best of him and challenges Drago to an exhibition match in Vegas. Rocky helps him train but the match turns ugly and Drago’s brutal assault kills Creed.

Shaken to the core but hungry to avenge his friend’s death, Rocky agrees to take on Drago in Russia on Christmas Day. Adrian disapproves and Rocky is forced to relinquish his title in order to fight. While Drago trains with the latest technology and anabolic steroids, Rocky goes all-natural, training in the Siberian wilderness with his brother-in-law and Creed’s former trainer. Naturally, Rocky rises to the moment and comes from behind in an ugly match to defeat Drago and even wins over the hostile Russian crowd.

Rocky IV is a very difficult movie to place. With Rocky III, Stallone sold out the heart of Balboa and turned the series into a money-making machine. With no innocence left for the franchise, Stallone (who writes and directs his third consecutive Rocky flick) goes for broke and crams this film with every element possible to elicit his desired response from audiences. The result is a film that manipulates you into being satisfied with an inferior product by appealing to our most rudimentary heartstrings.

I grew up during the final stages of the Cold War but wasn’t old enough to grasp the importance of world events until long after the fall of the USSR. In this way, I missed out on much of the animosity that brewed between the nations since World War II. But I did grow up on mid to late 80s and early 90s movies that contained enough of that Cold War ‘spirit’ to get the picture. This ‘spirit’ is exactly what Stallone plays to with this film but it only works for members of the early half of Generation Y and older.

Tapping into the über-patriotism of the era is cheap but it was probably the only thing Stallone could do to make a fourth Rocky flick interesting. Apollo Creed’s cocky swagger helped fuel support for Rocky in the first two films and Clubber Lang’s egomaniacal behavior in III upped the ante. Had Rocky merely taken on yet another self-loving boxer, Rocky IV would have felt redundant. Making Drago Russian raises the stakes to the next level, even though it results in a lower-quality film.

Let’s be honest- Rocky IV is really Rocky III on anabolic steroids. The formula is still the same- a boxer presents himself as a threat; that boxer causes the death of someone Rocky loves; Rocky challenges him; Adrian objects; Rocky has a few training montages; Adrian comes around; and, finally, Rocky surmounts the odds and wins the fight. The only difference is that Ivan Drago isn’t even remotely respectable, allowing Stallone to simplify the formula even further.

I don’t know who ever told Sylvester Stallone that he was a capable writer but they certainly lied. The script is full of groan-worthy lines and the acting is shaky at best. Dolph Lundgren does a good job of standing around and looking menacing, which is all Drago is there to do. There is literally no character development to be had for Drago (and virtually none for anyone else for that matter). He is the archetypal villain and Rocky the archetypal hero.

But Rocky IV is more than just hero vs. villain. It’s David vs. Goliath, US vs. Russia, nature vs. science, and the American spirit vs. the cold Soviet machine all rolled into one. Despite being shamelessly calculated, Rocky IV’s banal formula is also what makes it so darn fun to watch. While parts of the film are no doubt recognized as cliché-ridden fluff by audiences, the simplicity of this jingoistic underdog tale bypasses our bullcrap detectors and actually finds a way to be endearing.

This is a weak film but it is also highly enjoyable. What little craftsmanship is on display (though the boxing scenes are some of the series’ best) hardly matters because every fiber of our being wants to watch Rocky rise to the top and crush his vile opponent. It’s one of the guiltiest of all guilty pleasures, which is fine by me.

RATING: 2.25 out of 5

Rocky III (1982)

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

To put it bluntly, this is the first officially unnecessary Rocky sequel. After capturing our hearts with his grit and determination in the ring in two films, Rocky has become an icon. He defends his title several times and is a marketing giant. He’s pulling in all kinds of money and it just may be going to his head. His brother-in-law Paulie grows incredibly jealous and calls him on his fame and fortune while in a drunken stupor.

Meanwhile, a determined young fighter, Clubber Lang (played by Mr. T), has his sights set on Balboa. He practices and trains and works his way up the ranks and is bold enough to demand a match against Rocky.

The problem with Rocky III is that things are just too simplified. In a way, it’s a reversal of the original. Now Rocky is living the high life and being challenged by a young upstart. Clubber Lang is very much like an early Rocky. To prevent audiences from rooting for Lang, however, the filmmakers depict him as selfish and egomaniacal, thinking that he is the greatest and Balboa is just a chump. After being called out many times, Balboa wants to know why he shouldn’t take on the loud mouth.

Evidently, Rocky’s world is crushed when his trainer tells him that all his title defenses were against much weaker opponents. Mickey was protecting Rocky from tough bouts because Rocky isn’t the stallion everyone thinks he is. A good fighter, yes, but not capable of standing toe to toe with some of the toughest fighters on the circuit.

Rocky decides to be block-headed and fight Lang anyway. Before the fight, Lang assaults Mickey, who suffers a heart attack and dies in the locker room. Balboa, having insufficient amounts of training montages by this point isn’t focused and loses his title to Lang.

Rocky becomes depressed and reverts to his bummish ways of old until Apollo Creed tells him to snap out of it. Creed takes him to the slums of LA to train ‘old school’ style, but Rocky’s afraid of fighting Lang again. Cue an emotionally charged speech from Adrian and some new montage music (“Eye of the Tiger”) and Rocky is good to go. He’s mean, lean and ready to fight.

He wins of course, allowing Rocky to redeem himself (from what, exactly, we’re not too certain) and Rocky has now become elevated from inspiration to hero status. The biggest problem is that Rocky III indulges in all the over-the-top attitudes that were flirted with briefly in Rocky II, turning Rocky into some kind of all-powerful demigod. Sylvester Stallone effectively converts Rocky from a film series into a movie franchise. The success of this film all but guaranteed another installment, because while Rocky may still be fighting for pride, from here on out, Stallone was in it for the money.

This sends us a mixed message that doesn’t mesh with the ideals of the original film. Plain and simple, Rocky III kills most of the virtue of the original.

RATING: 2.5 out of 5

Rocky II (1979)

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

The movie poster says "The story continues..." but they didn’t really need to make this film. The good news is that it’s not a heinous crime of a follow-up (as some sequels can be).

Rocky II picks up during the fight between Rocky and Apollo Creed (a clever way to chew up 10 or so minutes without shooting any new footage). Creed was named winner by decision, but demands a rematch from the Italian Stallion. Only this time it will be a legitimate title shot for Rocky.

There’s more of the awkward courtship between Rocky and Adrian, and eventually they become engaged and get married. Rocky tries doing commercials to make some cash, but he’s not the most literate, nor articulate, guy in the world, so he ends up taking Creed up on the title fight. As the fight looms near, Adrian gives birth but falls into a coma. This impedes Rocky’s ability to train properly and Mickey gets angry at him.

Fortunately, Adrian wakes up weeks before the fight and (high on meds that she is) manages to perk Rocky up and tell him to go out there and win that fight. This fills him with just the right amount of confidence to keep pace with music playing in the training montage and the Stallion is back. He wins that fight and shouts “Yo Adrian!” Roll credits.

Basically, Rocky II was made for the sole purpose of letting Rocky win, but it’s still enjoyable and the fight scenes are really good.

RATING: 2.75 out of 5