Rocky Balboa Review
by Jerry at the Movies (Faust668 AT msn DOT com)May 12th, 2007
ROCKY BALBOA (2006)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: Three stars
Who would've thunk it? Stallone's sixth outing as Rocky Balboa turns out to be as good as any of the sequels since "Rocky II." Purging the abominable "Rocky V," "Rocky Balboa" is an incisive, almost poetic portrait of an old man who wants to prove to the world he's still got it. And Stallone certainly has it in spades.
As the movie opens, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a 60-year-old man, still living in Philadelphia and with his cranky-as-ever brother- in-law Paulie (Burty Young). Rocky no longer has Adrian, his beloved wife, who lost her life to cancer. Still, the spirit of the Italian Stallion lives on as he is now owner of a restaurant called "Adrian's," and he entertains customers with stories of his old championship fights. One of his customers is an old opponent, Spider (Pedro Lovell), which will tickle Rocky fans who remember him as Rocky's first opponent in the original "Rocky" film.
Things change when a computer-generated fight between Rocky and the newest sensation, Mason "the Line" Dixon (played by heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver), sets Rocky's eyes in focus to a possible comeback. The question is: can a 60-year-old Rocky fight in the ring? Heck, George Foreman came back for one final round in the ring. The answer is yes, Rocky still has it. There is, however, chagrin from Rocky's son (Milo Ventimiglia ), Paulie and just about everyone else in the boxing world ("Will this bout be an execution?"). But a scheduled exhibition fight is set in motion, and Mason Dixon considers this an easy one-two punch victory, or is it?
There is no question how this scenario is going to turn out. Still, "Rocky Balboa" does it with oodles of humanity and heart, thanks to Stallone's exemplary writing and directing reins. He knows Rocky inside and out, showing the character's emotional pain of the loss of his wife and the memories that still linger in good old Philly. Paulie is sick of Rocky's nostalgic reminders, yet Rocky is lost without Adrian. The chance to fight again and to share his spirited need to shape himself into a human being again with his son is what informs most of "Rocky Balboa." This movie has no glitz, no slickness to it whatsoever. It is a human drama about a lost soul who is clearly an optimist.
Especially touching is Rocky's renewed relationship with Marie (Geraldine Hughes), a former troubled teen who is now a bartender. Rocky befriends her and her son (James Francis Kelly III), though the fact that the son is a mulatto makes Rocky wonder where Marie has been hanging around. Nevertheless, Rocky gets Marie a job as a hostess for his restaurant. Perhaps, he is inspired by her or feels bad for her, or is hoping for a new love interest. The movie never quite gets around to it.
As inspired is the idea of an aging Rocky, the film would've been benefitted from less supporting characters. I wish there was more shown between Paulie and Rocky, two men who see the city isn't what it once was. I wish we learned more about Marie, a character given some spark by Geraldine Hughes yet, by the time we arrive at the obligatory championship finale, she is mostly there to cheer for Rocky. Little is divulged about Marie's son - again, another character on the sidelines. And Rocky Jr. is a cheerless banker who feels slighted by his father's glorious past - he only got the job as a banker because of his name (Nepotism can have its flaws). But the character has also been left on the cutting room floor.
The final fight is shown as an HBO special from one angle, with some occasional cuts to a bruised, black-and-white Rocky image with red blood dripping from his lips and eyes. The fight works but the real deal is that it wasn't needed - Stallone has already shown Rocky with more zeal before the fight than ever before.
Despite its flaws, "Rocky Balboa" is an often powerful, rousing, subtle and enriching film about aging. When Rocky learns that he has lost his speed (thanks to calcium deposits in his joints and arthritis), he builds his power from his gut and his heart. He can still run to the top of the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, lift weights, drink his eggs and punch those slabs of meat. He shows that despite his losses, he still has so much to gain. When Rocky gets back in the ring, you'll feel it too. Stallone has done what seemed the impossible - after thirty years, he has brought Rocky back in all his glory.
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