Rocky Balboa is a 2006 movie directed by Sylvester Stallone.
Rocky Balboa returns to the Rocky saga, as the aging boxer finds himself widowed and growing estranged from his son. Thanks to a computer simulation, Rocky receives another chance to fight for the heavyweight championship.
THE BEST – Stallone Gets to Act
Excepting the original, this is Stallone’s best acting job of the saga. He shines in a few strong scenes, including a dialogue in front of the athletic commission, exchanges with Geraldine Hughes’ Marie and a powerhouse speech to Milo Ventimiglia’s Robert. However, Stallone’s best moment comes as he’s flooded with emotion when he laments Adrian’s death. There’s genuine hurt and confusion that Stallone allows to the surface. It’s a brilliant moment – one of the best of the entire series.
THE BEST Part 2 – Stuff in the Basement
Stallone and Burt Young’s Pauly each come to grips with aging. Young’s Pauly – reduced to a comic character in previous movies – gets some scenes to show off an emotional maturity. After getting fired from the meat packing plant, Young shows off his underrated skills. Stallone’s Rocky uses the expression as a metaphor for his past – a theme that is repeated in each of the sequels, but here the emotional impact is truly felt.
THE BEST Part 3 – The Reality Era of Rocky
The shift from the cartoonishly vicious and superhuman boxing exhibited in Rocky III and Rocky IV slightly occurs in Rocky V but is on full display here. The Balboa-Dixon fight – while still brutal – resembles more technical, real-life boxing. The reality is enhanced by the full HBO-style presentation of the fight.
THE BEST Part 4 – Marie Slips Into the Adrian Role
Geraldine Hughes is put in a challenging spot as she is essentially playing Adrian – without any of the tangible aspects of Talia Shire’s classic character. It’s a delicate role and Hughes does a great job. She gives the character an edge and displays some authentic toughness. Hughes admirably gives the classic Adrian motivating speech.
THE WORST – Managers Turning on Rocky’s Opponents
With the exception of Apollo Creed, this seems to be a theme with Rocky’s opponents. Taking a page from Ivan Drago’s Soviet handlers, Dixon’s greedy manager – portrayed by A.J. Benza – essentially turns on his fighter.
THE WORST Part 2 – This Movie Sponsored by GoldenPalace.com
If anything signals 2000’s sports and promotional grabs, it’s GoldenPalace.com. Virtually anything combat sports-related and/or involving a streaker or parachute in the 2000’s would be stamped by the online gambling site. Here, the always enterprising Pauly gets on board to cash in on Rocky once again.
THE WORST Part 3 – Larry Merchant
Longtime boxing fans already have an awareness of the heelish Merchant. Here, Stallone allows the venerable commentator to turn up the volume – dishing out endless verbal jabs towards the aging contender. It’s a funny quirk but quickly gets run in the ground.
IN THE WEEDS – Some of my Favorite Moments
Rocky’s Turtles Have Grown
Rocky’s Reading Glasses
Beautiful LeRoy Neimann Painting
“You live someplace long enough, you are that place.”
Little Marie: “Great insults last a long time.”
Spider Rico
Bert Sugar
Pauly: “That’s one ugly dog.”
Robert’s Super Annoying Friends
Pauly the Artist
“It’s all edible.”
Tony Burton
Pauly Gets Hit With Chalk
“Let’s start building some hurt bombs.”
Black and White Flashbacks
Mike Tyson’s Taunts
FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 4/5
Rocky Balboa finally achieves the blueprint Stallone sought in Rocky III through Rocky V. It’s a fitting tribute and culmination to a classic saga.
