6.9
His wife is dead and his son hates him, but this old man still has fight in him! When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ Rocky Balboa, reigning heavyweight titleholder Mason Dixon retaliates by challenging Rocky to a nationally televised, 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son and friends, Rocky agrees to come out of retirement and face an opponent who's faster, stronger, and thirty years his junior.
Sylvester Stallone
Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
Burt Young
Paulie Pennino
Antonio Tarver
Mason 'The Line' Dixon
Geraldine Hughes
Marie
Milo Ventimiglia
Robert 'Rocky' Balboa Jr.
Tony Burton
Tony 'Duke' Evers
A.J. Benza
L.C.
James Francis Kelly III
Steps
Lou DiBella
Lou DiBella
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Henry G. Sanders
Martin
Pedro Lovell
Spider Rico
Ana Gerena
Isabel
Louis Giansante
Bar Thug
Maureen Schilling
Lucky's Bartender
Lahmard J. Tate
X-Cell
Woody Paige
ESPN Commentator
Skip Bayless
ESPN Commentator
Jay Crawford
ESPN Commentator
Brian Kenny
ESPN Host
Dana Jacobson
ESPN Host
Charles Johnson
ESPN Host
James Binns
Commissioner
Johnnie Hobbs Jr.
Commissioner
Barney Fitzpatrick
Commissioner
Jim Lampley
HBO Commentator
Larry Merchant
HBO Commentator
Max Kellerman
HBO Commentator
LeRoy Neiman
LeRoy Neiman
Bert Sugar
Ring Magazine Reporter
Bernardo Fernández
Boxing Association of America Writer
Gunnar Peterson
Weightlifting Trainer
Yahya
Dixon's Opponent
Marc Ratner
Weigh-In Official
Anthony Lato Jr.
Rocky's Inspector
Jack Lazzarado
Dixon's Inspector
Michael Buffer
Ring Announcer
Joe Cortez
Referee
Carter Mitchell
Shamrock Foreman
Vinod Kumar
Ravi
Fran Pultro
Father at Restaurant
Frank Stallone Jr.
Dinner Patron
Jody Giambelluca
Dinner Patron
Tobias Segal
Robert's Friend
Tim Carr
Robert's Friend
Matt Frack
Robert's Friend #3
Paul Dion Monte
Robert's Friend
Kevin King Templeton
Robert's Friend
Robert Michael Kelly
Mr. Tomilson
Rick Buchborn
Rocky Fan
Nick Baker
Irish Pub Bartender
Don Sherman
Andy
Stu Nahan
Computer Fight Commentator (voice)
Gary Compton
Security Guard
David Gere
Patron at Adrian's (uncredited)
Jacob 'Stitch' Duran
Stitch (uncredited)
Talia Shire
Adrianna "Adrian" Balboa (Archive Footage)
Burgess Meredith
Micky Goldmill (Archive Footage)
Angelyna Martinez-Boyd
Angie
Director, Characters, Writer
Sylvester Stallone
January 16, 2020
5
Rocky Balboa, much like the titular character, throws tired punches within the constraints of its clichéd boxing ring. Thirty years since Rocky, the underdog from Philadelphia, graciously climbed into the ring and gave Apollo Creed a run for his money. Then a sequel was commissioned. And another one. And another. Until the negligently produced ‘Rocky V’ was released with its disappointing conclusion, leaving fans underwhelmed. Stallone too, discontent with the final product. Thus, the sixth title in the series was conceived, with Stallone starring, writing and directing the feature. Throughout the sequels, many tropes were repeatedly utilised to capitalise on the resounding success of the original instalment, after all it received the Best Picture award of ‘76. The training montage to “Gonna Fly Now”, the awkward conversational exchanges between Rocky and a potential love interest, the old optimistic monologue and Stallone attempting to demonstrate he isn’t just a masterpiece wax work by shedding one tear. All culminating into an emotional boxing match where it doesn’t matter who wins, “it’s about how many hits you can take, and still keep moving forward”.
The narrative difference in all these thirty years? Rocky is older now. Fine, that was somewhat harsh. Stallone implements some note-worthy additions to the linear storytelling. The brooding aura of melancholy that envelops Rocky and Philadelphia, struggling to move on from the passing of his wife Adrian. This sorrowful force restraining Balboa to a mere relic within the sport that he fought so viciously in. Guests visiting his restaurant (aptly names “Adrian’s”) to intently listen to his tales, as if a museum piece for all to reminisce. Struggling to retain his symbolic status within boxing.
The problem is, Stallone never progresses the plot. In fact, he maintained the narrative to be a simple yet dull nostalgia trip that relied heavily on sentimentality. A wearisome derivative of the original that, unfortunately, felt fatigued in terms of homaging certain plot points. The entire first act was Balboa moping around, despite Adrian passing years ago, embodying remorse. Stallone, as Rocky, nailed the consistency of his character. From the awkward dialogue to his emphatic mannerisms, he constantly reminded us that he is the only actor available to play this legendary cinematic character. Whilst Stallone’s performance was commendable, others not so much.
There’s an underlying issue with insufficient chemistry between the actors. Stallone and Hughes, reprising the character of Marie, were decent if undercooked. Stallone and Ventimiglia on the other hand, who portrays his son, had nothing. All dialogue exchanges between them felt forced and lacked emotionality, particularly when Ventimiglia was “supporting” his father outside the ring. Young was passable as Paulie, although acting talent has diminished considerably over the years with his constant shouting.
The third act boxing match was filmed concisely, with Stallone taking a distant approach in order to exploit the energy within the room. The corny punching sound effects were removed, with Stallone and Tarver actually throwing real punches. It certainly exhumed realism, if a tad pedestrian. However, Stallone then opted to embed unusual visualised effects within the fight to indicate Rocky’s thought process as he remembers past fights in search for vigour. Far too cheesy and cumbersome, breaking up the flow of the match with unnecessary slow motion. Rocky’s opponent Mason Dixon was severely underdeveloped, lacking strength within his motives as he yearns to be taken seriously as a heavyweight champion.
Rocky Balboa will entertain fans of the franchise. It encompasses several vital narrative elements that many have learned to adore. However, for the casual audience who are neither here nor there regarding the series, it’s a drained formulaic story that depends too heavily on paying homage to its predecessors. Ultimately exhausting itself before the penultimate fight commences.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$24,000,000.00
Revenue:
$155,900,000.00