Rocky IV is a 1985 movie directed by Sylvester Stallone.
Rocky IV continues the saga of heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Balboa. In this sequel, Apollo Creed takes on Russian Ivan Drago in an exhibition that tragically ends. Rocky agrees to an unsanctioned fight in the Soviet Union, where he emerges triumphant.
THE BEST – Rocky Basically Ends the Cold War
If you’re tracking Rocky’s post-fight speeches, you’ll notice a huge leap. He’s convulsing like a wounded animal in the early movies – making non-sensical, guttural yelps. After defeating Drago and winning over the Soviet crowd, he turns political by noting the unifying quality of brute American strength. It’s pure Reagan-era propaganda and prodigious American ego.
And of course, it’s brilliant.
THE BEST Part 2 – Coked Up Training Montages
The evolution of Rocky training montages is a beautiful phenomenon. While the first two movies involve Rocky using his natural surroundings, Rocky IV finds our hero chopping down trees, outrunning KGB cars and climbing mountains. Stallone’s own transformation from beefy club boxer to chiseled action hero is on display – some of the herculean exercises he performs seem to be a love letter to his own ego.
THE BEST Part 3 – The Opening Montage
I’m a sucker for 80s sports and a nerd for broadcast graphics – the opening sequence of the movie where the American and Soviet boxing gloves meet and explode is one of the my favorite moments of any Rocky movie.
THE BEST Part 4 – Bossy Adrian
Adrian’s come a long way from the painfully shy pet shop worker – she scolds Apollo for wanting to fight Drago before laying it out for Rocky: “You can’t win.”
THE BEST Part 5 – Narrative Songs
I’m also a sucker for songs that announce the narrative. In this case, Hearts on Fire tells you all you need to know: “Is it East versus West or Man versus Man?”
I guess it’s both. Who cares?
THE BEST Part 6 – Duke
Tony Burton’s Duke is mostly in the background of the first three movies but he plays a vital role as Apollo and Rocky’s trainer. He’s given a quality scene where he explains the significance of Apollo’s death. Also, he’s known as Rocky’s first trainer who doesn’t use a specific fight strategy (that will no doubt be ignored).
THE BEST Part 7 – Rocky Doesn’t Try to Quit
Rocky IV marks the first time Rocky doesn’t try to quit his training – or spends the majority of it moping. It’s a welcome change.
THE WORST – 80s Politics
The Soviets are cast as a brutal, soulless military regime who will cheat at every turn to ensure victory. Throughout his training, Drago receives injections and during the fights, he continually breaks the rules to batter his opponents. Yet their response to the Americans is intriguing – the USA is referred to as “violent and antagonistic” – which isn’t exactly false.
However, the most interesting development occurs before the fight’s final round, when Drago is berated by a Soviet official for both losing the fight and the hometown crowd. Drago realizes the moment and announces that he is now fighting for himself – which is a quintessential American sentiment.
THE WORST Part 2 – A Movie of Montages
Roughly one-third of Rocky IV consists of montages. The formula created in the first three movies is on hyperdrive here, as there are barely any true scenes of dialogue. Rocky has a few scenes with Adrian, Apollo and his unnamed son before either training or fighting. Before, the montages amplified the narrative – here, the narrative is a series of montages.
And it’s still awesome.
THE WORST Part 3 – Rocky is Truly the Cause of Apollo’s Destruction
Let’s consider the following: If Apollo’s original Bicentennial opponent doesn’t break his hand and/or if Apollo wasn’t so enamored with the Italian Stallion nickname, then Apollo and Rocky never cross paths.
This leads to Apollo likely ending his career on a more successful note – or at least not losing to Rocky then dying at the hands of Drago. Of course, Apollo’s ego and desire to play the warrior proves a heavy role in his demise, but you just have to wonder.
Rocky’s somber words at Apollo’s funeral seem to amplify this unfortunate union.
THE WORST Part 4 – The Robot and the Kid
There’s a strange disconnect between Rocky, Adrian and their mostly unnamed kid. In Rocky II, Rocky doesn’t see his newborn son for days – until Adrian wakes from her coma. In consecutive movies, the son is essentially abandoned while Rocky trains thousands of miles away. The kicker comes as Rocky calls out his kid after his victory – he is basically being babysat by Pauly’s robot.
No wonder “the kid” had so many issues in Rocky Balboa.
THE WORST Part 5 – Rocky’s Motivation to Fight
Rocky’s rationale to fight Drago is likely the worst of his career – he basically contradicts the argument he used in Rocky III. He’s essentially incoherent here but it really doesn’t matter – after he’s done talking, we move straight into a montage.
THE WORST Part 6 – Rocky’s Magically Healed Right Eye
In Rocky II, we learn that Rocky’s right eye has been permanently damaged in the first fight. It’s such a huge concern that Mickey doesn’t want Rocky to fight again. However, some ten fights later, it’s all but forgotten.
FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 3.75/5
Any criticisms listed above come from a genuine place. I love the entire Rocky franchise and this movie holds a special place. The evolution of Stallone from quirky 70s character actor to 80s action hero is spectacular. The political tones perfectly capture the amped up, steroid enhanced, hyper muscular era. It’s definitely a time capsule of stupidly fun and arrogant American power.
