Rocky Balboa is a return to form for the franchise. A more grounded, realistic, sporting drama and the best film in the franchise since Rocky II (1982.)
People mocked Stallone when he announced this project (16 years after Rocky V) but Stallone proved everyone wrong and makes the unbelievable believable, with superb quotable dialogue (see: Rocky's inspiring speech to his grown-up son, Milo Ventimiglia.)
When ESPN broadcasts a computer simulation of a fight between a younger Rocky and current, unpopular champ, Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver), Rocky enlists old pal Duke (Tony Burton) to train him, for an exhibition match. In-between Rocky finds time to help Marie (Geraldine Hughes), who he met thirty years earlier, and her son 'Steps' (James Francis Kelly III), while living with his late wife's brother, Paulie (Burt Young.)
Stallone makes the training sequences believable showing the passage of time. Speaking of Stallone, he doesn't get enough credit for his groundbreaking performance, he is the heart and soul of these movies, creating an iconic character that has & will continue to stand the test of time.
A fitting ending to the Rocky saga. Spin-off Creed would follow in 2015.
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DIRECTED BY: Sylvester Stallone. SCREENPLAY BY: Sylvester Stallone. RUNNING TIME: 102 minutes, Director's Cut, 116 minutes. CERTIFICATE: PG. USA.
Side note: The credits feature people from all over the world visiting Philadelphia and running up the iconic steps (doing a Rocky boxing pose.) The impact these films had and continue to have on popular culture is astounding.
