2006 | Dir. Sylvester Stallone | 100 Minutes
"It's your right to listen to your gut. It ain't nobody's right to say no after you earned the right to be what you wanna be and do what you wanna do!"
A speculative computer simulated fight between current maligned heavyweight champion Mason "The Line" Dixon and Rocky Balboa at his prime determines Rocky to be the winner. While Dixon aims show the public that he's worthy champion by arranging an exhibition fight with Rocky, an old and retired Rocky, living alone after losing Adrian to cancer, is determined to step back into the ring one last time to do what he does best despite. Flying against the expectations of public perception, Rocky goes the distance in his match against Dixon.
Rocky Balboa is a second chance for Sylvester Stallone to give the Rocky film series a proper ending and, miraculously, he sticks the landing. True to the underdog story of the first Rocky film released thirty years prior, although from a radically different context, Rocky Balboa is a touching love letter to fans of the titular character offering a heartbreaking glimpse into the life of a champion still itching to compete in his later years.
Sixteen years after he last played the title character, Sylvester Stallone's winning personality shines, bringing Rocky to life once again in his best dramatic performance to date. Burt Young is as explosive as ever playing curmudgeon Paulie although his character is given slightly more depth in this film. A welcome familiar face, Tony Burton reprises the role of Duke Evers, training Rocky once again as he once did in Rocky III and Rocky IV. Milo Ventimiglia, who has a passing resemblance for Stallone, skillfully takes over the role of Rocky's conflicted son, quietly evoking one man's struggle against the unfounded expectations to live up to his famous father's insurmountable legacy. With a cautious air of tenderness, Geraldine Hughes plays Marie, a minor character returning from the first Rocky film with a significantly expanded role as Rocky's new friend and confidant. Pro boxer Antonio Tarver plays Mason "The Line" Dixon in a competent and natural performance that doesn't require much acting experience.
Genuinely inspirational with a strong emotional core, Rocky Balboa is an excellent companion piece to the first Rocky film, and the perfect ending to the Rocky film series.
FRAGMENTS
- Spider Rico, Rocky's opponent in the opening scene of the first Rocky film, is featured in a brief scene where Rocky gives him a job at his restaurant
- As cited in the film, the computer simulated fight between Rocky and Dixon was inspired by a simulated fight between Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano in 1970
- The match between Rocky and Dixon was shot in high definition and styled to emulate a real life pay-per-view boxing event
- Composer Bill Conti's musical score makes extensive use of music from past Rocky films and a brand new version of "Gonna Fly Now" during Rocky's training montage
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Sylvester Stallone (Stakar in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3)
