Rocky Balboa Review*****To most, the idea of a sixth Rocky Balboa seems absurd. The idea of Sylvester Stallone, now sixty years young, dragging the series out even further after the critical and commercial failure of Rocky 5, was a source of mirth. Well the fact of the matter is that he has made the film and like the eponymous hero, Sylvester Stallone has succeeded against all odds. I am though perhaps slightly biased in my opinion; I’m about a big a fan of the series as they come. That said, even I realise that Rocky 4 was a cheesy and pompous montage of montages, (still it’s the best cheesy and pompous montage of montages in the world and my favourite film of all time). Rocky Balboa though, represents the other end of the spectrum, reverting back to the classic formula of the first two Rocky films. This film is a drama first and a boxing film second and it’s all the better for it.
One criticism that has been levelled at this most recent offering is that it’s a bit too much of a slow burner. I concede that the nostalgia-inducing beginning, where Rocky takes Paulie on a ‘tour’ covering all of the spots from his first date, may be a risky opening gambit as it could be alienating for those not so familiar with the series. Even for the un-initiated however, what this achieves is to paint the emotional environment and remind you of what the characters have been through. The film continues in this spirit while the ageing characters spill their hearts out. It’s almost painful to watch but it’s all just an exercise in delayed gratification as each regret that Rocky expresses makes you route for him that little bit more in the ring, plus it has the added bonus of allowing us to visit these familiar characters and see what’s become of them. The dialogue, though somewhat hokey, is filled with not so subtle gems of wisdom and they are expertly delivered by a cast of underrated actors. Rocky’s speech to his son is particularly moving and reminds us that this is not just a film series, but a way of life.  When the classic theme tune finally kicks in and Rocky begins his training you can’t help but punch the air in excitement, (okay I couldn’t resist, much to the chagrin of my fellow cinema goers). The end fight is more than worth it too, and has been lauded for its authenticity – filmed just as you would see it on TV and without the corny sound effects used in the other films. You’ll find yourself cheering for the ‘Greatest Underdog of our Time’ ™ more than ever and with Sly in such good shape for his age, it’s perfectly feasible that he would be able to go toe to toe with this latest contender. Another point worth mentioning is that his age isn't mentioned in the film - whereas in reality Stallone was 60, Rocky could easily be 50, making the film all the more believeable. His age just adds one more hurdle that Rocky and Stallone take pleasure in ploughing through with all their trademark determination. All in all this is Rocky showing us once again that anything’s possible and that age needn’t be an obstacle. This is his one last hoorah, heavy on the hoorah. Review by Adam Sinicki |
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