I can hear it now, the all encompassing theme to “Rocky” — “Gonna Fly Now.” Whenever, I hear that music I get goose-pimples all over my ass. And after five installments of the “Rocky” franchise, that’s about all that gets me excited about the movies anymore. Needless to say, most of the sequels have been a bit of a letdown. Can Rocky Balboa break the streak of Stallone shit?
In a word, no. This time around our hero, now old and out of shape is trying to come to grasp with being old, out of shape and alone. That’s right, Rocky is old and showing it. And that cut physique he used to have during Stallone’s steroid phase is largely missing. But most troubling of all is the absence of Talia Shire, who as everyone knows, played Adrian. Apparently she’s been written off as dead as even she realized no good could come out of a sixth installment.
However, it’s not that Rocky Balboa doesn’t try to bring back the butterflies that its’ predecessors drew from our stomachs. Stallone brought back as many characters as he could — Spider Rico (he fought him in the first film), an older Marie (she was the kid in “Rocky” who called him a creep) and of course Paulie, played by Burt Young. Stallone also drops in photo montages of Adrian and Mickey and brings us to all the old haunts — his old apartment, the ice rink he and Adrian had their first date, the pet shop, etc. And although I searched for ways to get sentimental, I couldn’t.
My biggest gripe though, is the obvious commercialism of the movie. There are at least 100 painfully obvious product placements throughout Rocky Balboa. HBO, Mandalay Bay, Golden Palace, ESPN, among a host of others are constantly paraded in our face. And for what? It doesn’t add any more realism to the movie. It just makes me realize how far the once great franchise has fallen.
Only the true, die hard fans of “Rocky” should care about seeing this movie. It pains me in the gut to say that Rocky Balboa should be skipped altogether by the rest of the movie going public. All the splendor that was “Rocky” is lost — and I hope to God — Stallone let’s Rocky rest in peace, here on out.
'Movie Review: Rocky Balboa (2006)' have 4 comments
June 18, 2008 @ 2:39 am Ojay
Yes, I agree with you about Adrian. Yo, Adrian! Talia Shire missing from Rocky Balboa created a whole that this latest release of the Rocky series could not dig their way out of. Rocky Balboa was a little painful to watch.
October 10, 2009 @ 6:39 pm alic
This is one of the best movies of all time. It is very realistic, even the conclusion. Surely, not the same as all our bollywood movies have.
October 18, 2009 @ 6:17 pm Lotan
Rocky is an incredible inspiration for everyone. Age has nothing to do with talent,I’m glad Stallone made a final finish to the Rocky series.The character has heart as well as determination.How a person thinks can take you far.Wish there were more movies like this.Thumbs up to a great actor which I’ve enjoyed several of his other movies as well.
December 7, 2009 @ 8:42 pm Ilan
Long live Italian stalion. Truely sylvy lives the character of rocky. Its not just a outright boxing movie but teaches you the very basics of life “Life is not about hitting hard its about getting hit hard and still moving ahead in life” Racky takes the final punch thus explaining his son life is more than winning,. Man dont ever miss this movie. Sylvy even at 60 can put all honcos like salman and likes to shame. Rocky is worth every penny.