Director: Sylvester Stallone
Writers: Sylvester Stallone, Sylvester Stallone (characters)
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Tarver, Milo Ventimiglia, Burt Young, Geraldine Hughes, Tony Burton, James Francis Kelly III

Back in 2006, it had been thirty years since we were first introduced to the People’s Champion, Rocky Balboa. And now, Rocky steps out of retirement, laces up his gloves, and prepares for one last epic battle, facing off against the reigning heavyweight champ, Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon.

I have to admit, my reaction back in 2006 was something along the lines of, “What on earth, Sly? You’re past your prime!” The last Rocky movie hadn’t been a stellar entry, and it had been a long 16 years since that lackluster fifth installment. In a way, Rocky’s character at this point was mirroring Sylvester Stallone’s own career. I’m not saying Sly was done for, but his film choices in the early 2000s were less than stellar. “Get Carter” (2000) was a remake that fell flat, and “Avenging Angelo” (2002) and “D-Tox” (2002) went straight to video/DVD. So, my skepticism, along with that of many Stallone fans, was justified. Even the Rocky fanbase within the film mirrored this sentiment – they believed Rocky’s time had passed.

Perhaps one of the most significant decisions Sylvester Stallone made in this project was writing out the character of Rocky’s beloved wife, Adrianne, and explaining that she had passed away a few years earlier. It was a bold move, as Talia Shire’s character was the anchor for Rocky. Her strength and unwavering support had always propelled Rocky forward in those early films. They would have disagreements about his health and state of mind, and in all likelihood, she would have disagreed with his decision to step back into the ring one more time. It’s as though the events of “Rocky V” had been largely overlooked. After the grueling battle in Moscow in “Rocky IV,” the doctors had advised against Rocky ever stepping into the ring again. I believe I recall that in the fifth film, Rocky would have been denied a boxing license due to his condition. So, “Rocky Balboa” (2006) essentially retcons several aspects from the 1990s film, and I’m glad it does. Adrianne’s passing adds an emotional depth and a sense of emptiness to Rocky’s character early in the movie.

Unfortunately, Sage Stallone couldn’t return to the role of Robert Balboa, as Sly had hoped. His son had other commitments, and the role was handed to Milo Ventimiglia. Stallone made a wise choice here with Ventimiglia. Not only did the actor possess the same kind of gruff charm that Stallone is known for, but his character traits also resembled a young version of the veteran actor. At this point, Rocky’s life, now devoid of Adrianne, is further complicated by the emotional distance between him and Robert, who feels overshadowed by his father’s legend. You can’t really blame the son here; the legend of Rocky Balboa looms large in most Philadelphians’ lives. Ventimiglia does a great job in the role, and his real-life relationship with Stallone would evolve into a strong friendship that endures to this day. The relationship between Rocky and Robert is somewhat reminiscent of their dynamics in “Rocky V,” and the film wisely focuses on the most compelling aspects of their relationship.

Thankfully, Paulie (Burt Young) is still around, providing a sense of continuity to the series. The sadness in this character stems from his regret over how he treated his sister, Adrianne. As much as Rocky reminisces fondly about the past 30 years, Paulie would rather forget it and drown his regrets in booze and anger. You can see this in Rocky’s annual tour of his old haunts, which remind him of his earlier life. You also get a sense that the city has moved on, with not much left of the places and buildings from yesteryear. This is a significant theme in the narrative – Rocky is aging while everything around him moves forward, leaving the past behind. It’s a nice touch that Rocky hasn’t lost everything in the years since we last saw him. His restaurant, “Adrianne’s,” serves as a tribute to his wife, and it’s a place where he can share his stories with customers.

“Screw you, Creepo” was a memorable line from the first Rocky movie, spoken by a lesser character who was almost an extra, “Little Marie.” It’s interesting that Stallone chose to resurrect this character as one of the supporting characters, played by Geraldine Hughes. I’m not entirely sure of the reasoning behind this choice. Did the story need a strong female character for Rocky to rely on now that Adrianne was no longer there for him? Marie serves as a caretaker for the Italian Stallion without the emotional baggage that comes with Adrianne. Her son, “Steps” (James Francis Kelly III), brings purpose to Rocky’s life instead of hanging around street corners. Marie’s character serves a contrasting role to Robert. Steps don’t have the shadow of Rocky hanging over him and is genuinely in awe of Rocky’s achievements. Another character resurrected, albeit in a smaller role, is Spider Rico, Rocky’s first opponent from the opening scenes of the original film. It was nice to see Pedro Lovell return to play this role. It’s a minor role, more of a token gesture to the past, and Spider primarily appears in scenes at the restaurant and in the kitchen as someone Rocky helps.

The first half of the movie is a stroll down memory lane as we’re reacquainted with the characters from the past and find out where they are now. Thankfully, after enough reminiscing, the plot moves forward. During a drinking session with his friends, Robert is confronted with a

TV news segment that uses cutting-edge computer-generated imagery and statistical algorithms to simulate a virtual bout between Rocky Balboa and the current champion, Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon (played by Antonio Tarver). The bar patrons and Robert’s reaction to this simulation are surprising – there’s still a lot of love and respect for Rocky in 2006. The reaction from both the Rocky and Dixon camps is one of disbelief when the algorithm predicts a victory for Rocky. Rocky’s fans are ecstatic, and Dixon’s entourage is incensed. The issue I have with Dixon’s character is that he isn’t really the antagonist in the story. He comes across more as a fighter who has surrounded himself with yes-men, abandoned his old trainer, and arranged fights without a real challenge. It’s like a watered-down version of Apollo Creed. Antonio Tarver does a decent job in his role, but he doesn’t exude menace, just frustration, eventually pushed over the edge by the CGI fight.

A Rocky movie wouldn’t be complete without some memorable quotes, and there are several that stand out in this film, mostly from Stallone and Young. Lines like “But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward” are truly impactful. Not to mention, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are; it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.” The latter line, in particular, feels like it’s coming from Sly’s heart and not just his character. It’s as if Stallone was using the persona of Rocky to win over fans and prove that he still had what it took. He really had to earn the audience’s respect, just as Rocky does in this film. As a writer, and especially in his role as the character of Rocky, Stallone takes his work seriously. His care for this character is evident, and he’s deeply invested in the project.

The cinematography by Clark Mathis captures the look, feel, and pacing of the original films. The decision to wait for the forecasted snow during the iconic running-up-the-stairs scene was a brilliant one. It ended up on the movie poster and gave the film a gritty, realistic touch. Cinematography seamlessly transitions between cinematic and television styles during the boxing match. At the time, I wasn’t sure how this approach would work, but it didn’t disrupt the flow or feel of the film. Those final scenes after the match weren’t planned; the spontaneous cheers from the real boxing crowd who were there for a genuine fight echoed the love for Rocky and surprised even Stallone. He was using his Rocky persona to milk it, and it was well-deserved.

In summary, “Rocky Balboa” is a pleasant surprise. Stallone’s decision to revive the character after a long hiatus was risky, but it paved the way for the “Creed” films. Sly should be proud of his work here, and I’m sure he is. Following this release, his film choices once again became box office hits, with “Rambo 4,” “The Expendables,” and, as mentioned, the “Creed” films. The film ranks as my third favorite Rocky film, after the original “Rocky” and “Rocky II.” To quote the final line of the film, “Yo, Adrian, we did it… We did it.” Indeed, they did. Highly recommended.

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