Alex Hardy

Thirty years after Sylvester Stallone first introduced the underdog backroom brawler from Philadelphia in the Oscar-winning ROCKY, Rocky Balboa returns for one last dance. Speculation as to whether Balboa, in his prime, would have been able to defeat lackluster champ Mason “The Line” Dixon spurs Dixon’s management to set up an exhibition fight between the two… Life hits harder than any man can, and one’s ability to keep getting up until the final bell rings is the true measure of self. Corny? Perhaps. But when Bill Conti’s legendary score kicks in and Rocky starts pounding the heavy bag, the metaphor feels truly profound.

First up, an admission: I had never seen a Rocky film. It’s my understanding that the original is seen as something of a classic, its numerous sequels declining sharply in quality.

This is a film where you really have to leave your 21^st century cynicism at the door. It belongs to a bygone generation of films from the late seventies and early eighties - it’s an uncomplicated parable about self belief. The notion that a sixty year old could fight a man thirty years his junior to a standstill takes some swallowing, but the story of the film makes it surprisingly easy to suspend your disbelief.

Stallone’s script stays lean (it hints at Rocky’s developing friendship with Marie, but resists forcing a love story into the 102 minutes) and the pace doesn’t drag, even though at least half the film passes before the Big Training Montage. At the end, you want to cheer Rocky! Rocky!

I want to see the first now.

[rating:3]

Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 at 12:54 pm under Random. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.