1990 | Dir. John G. Avildsen | 104 Minutes
"Get up you son of a bitch! 'Cause Mickey loves you!"
Due to a series of poor financial decisions unbeknownst to Rocky, he is stripped of his fortune, sending him and his family back to the mean streets of Philadelphia. Tommy Gunn, a young fighter with big dreams seeks Rocky out to train him to be a heavyweight contender but, under the influence of a diabolical boxing promoter, Gunn quickly rebels against Rocky.
Though its heart may have been in the right place, Rocky V is a poorly-executed attempt to bring the story of Rocky full-circle. Hastily returning Rocky to his roots by way of a plot device sets the stage for a fate unbefitting a legend. While having Rocky take on the Mickey role for an up-and-coming fighter makes sense, having the hero turn his back on his family and his protégé turn against him doesn't make for a fulfilling story. While Rocky is triumphant in the concluding street fight with Tommy Gunn, a victory outside of the ring for the champ feels hollow.
Sylvester Stallone is charming as ever playing Rocky Balboa despite the film's disappointing storyline. Talia Shire and Burt Young effortlessly slip back into the roles of Adrian and Paulie. Burgess Meredith appears in a flashback as Mickey, once again offering Rocky words of wisdom in a time of need. Pro boxer Tommy Morrison plays the ambitious Tommy Gunn in a competent but unremarkable performance. Thinly-veiled Don King caricature George Washington Duke is played by Richard Gant with scenery-chewing gusto. Sylvester Stallone's real life son Sage plays Robert Balboa Jr.
Rocky V is a disappointing sequel and ultimately an inappropriate ending to the story of Rocky Balboa. The film is out-of-touch and unworthy of the film series' storied legacy.
FRAGMENTS
- In an odd and incredibly noticeable instance of discontinuity, the film begins immediately after the events of Rocky IV in which Rocky's son is played by child actor Rocky Krakoff who was nine years old at the time, while in Rocky V he is played by Sage Stallone who was fourteen at the time, in effect aging the character five years during Rocky's time in the Soviet Union
- Tommy Gunn's first fight takes place in the same location as the opening scene of Rocky where Rocky fights Spider Rico
- Rocky was written to die after his fight with Tommy Gunn in the original draft of the Rocky V screenplay but the head of the studio refused to have the hero die on screen (CBS Philly)
- Pro Boxer Michael Williams played Tommy Gunn's title match opponent Union Cane
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Sylvester Stallone (Stakar in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3)
007 CONNECTIONS
- Dolph Lundgren (Venz in A View to a Kill)
