Rocky Balboa

Lots of people rolled their eyes when a post-60 Sylvester Stallone picked up boxing gloves yet again for the 6th in the Rocky series. But surprisingly, Rocky Balboa is a very satisfying concluding chapter for probably the greatest cinematic underdog story ever.

But perhaps I’m biased. As a child of the 80’s I grew up watching, and thoroughly enjoying, the Rocky movies. Clearly I wasn’t alone – the average age of the cinema audience I saw the film with was about 20-22.

Rocky Balboa (written and directed by Stallone himself) is a throwback to the first 2 films in the series, stripping out the macho silliness of the 3rd and 4th movies, as well as the depressing events that marred the 5th film.

What’s great about Rocky is that he is such a vintage hero – a simple guy, he follows a strict moral code, helping people, encouraging self-respect in those around him and carrying a torch for his now deceased wife, Adrian. He’s a hero focused not on winning, but rather on ‘going the distance’, proving his capabilities to himself even as he gets older, and slower. It’s no coincidence Rocky rejects a younger, heavily-muscled dog for a greying mongrel at the animal shelter – he sees potential in the old dog. It’s not decaying and weak, but preserving its energy for when it matters.

Essentially life for Rocky is about how you take the punches, and in the second half of the film he gives his son, and the audience, an inspiring speech about being true to yourself, ignoring how others may put you down. It may sound terribly corny, but there is a surprising amount of genuine emotion, as well as credibility to events and characters in Rocky Balboa. Rocky is a boxer and man with heart, as opposed to current heavyweight champion Mason Dixon, who has never been challenged in the ring, and has lost respect for himself.


Rocky Balboa starts off pretty slowly (as the originals did), and the trailers provide a good highlights package of events. But despite its predictability the film does build to a very gratifying climax. The big exhibition fight between Rocky and Mason Dixon cleverly integrates footage from all of the big Rocky fights, as Rocky essentially takes a pounding from and punches back against all the events and frustrations that have shaped him until that point.

Bottom line: If you have a special place in your heart for the Rocky movies, you’ll enjoy Rocky Balboa. And remember to stay for the first portion of the film’s credits, which prove Rocky’s status as an unforgettable pop culture phenomenon…