I saw Rocky Balboa tonight with my brother Dan. I thought it was an excellent film, way better than what people gave it credit for. I would like to offer a slight critical analysis if I may so you may see why I think it was so good. It might not be "A" material but hopefully it gets a quick point across.
Sylvester Stallone was honored with an Academy Award for his hand in the creation of Rocky The Motion Picture. This film garnered praise from critics and audiences alike and rightly so. It was a tale of conquering fears, overcoming obstacles and other sports clichés. However there was a human depth that went way beyond boxing. Rocky's character is a little awkward. He seems like an outspoken cool dude, when in fact he is rather clumsy around women and authority. His love interest with Adrian begins rather shakily as rocky is a rather imposing man, but he is just trying to do what is right for her. He asks her to trust him, she does and as a result she becomes Rocky's muse. Everything he does he does it for Adrian; even when he gets a little prideful and blows all his money, (in subsequent films) he does it thinking he is helping Adrian. He is always reminded of his humble beginnings and ends up humbling himself.
Rocky Balboa received mild critical praise, although many laughed it off as a has been actor/director wanting to have one last chance to redeem himself and make a little extra dough. I agree wholeheartedly with this notion, but not the justification; yes a man wanted another chance, but the reasons are different. Rockys II through V were not stellar pictures. They were excellent boxing films and sports films in general, but they lacked a human element that was really crucial to the first film. There was definite examination of the human psyche, especially with the death of Mick, and the battle with Drago the Russian, but there was something missing but that is for a later date.
What was Sylvester Stallone thinking when he made a new Rocky? He is old, he is not a very good actor (so they say), Rocky is of the past; these are all valid to some extent considering his track record. However, Rocky Balboa is about a boxer who is looking for one last chance, not to prove to everyone that he is still the best, but to prove to himself that he is who he is. He needs to release some demons, some unfinished business, in order to let his life be at rest. His muse, Adrian, is dead by the time we catch up with Rocky in this film. He has a successful restaurant, but a kid that feels buried under his Dad's large (figuratively and literally) shadow. He feels mixed up and can't figure out what it is that is making him uneasy. He blames the loss of Adrian for his uneasiness and tries to cope with it by commemorating her at every turn. He then realizes that losing Adrian is not his problem, he has a boxing demon that needs to come out and prove not that he is the greatest, but that he has a true soul, a soul that respects itself. Rocky choosing to fight Dixon is not to prove to anyone he is the greatest, choosing to make this film is not to show that Stallone is the greatest film maker, it is to show that they have a demon, a drive within that needs to be expressed.
Perhaps the reason this film is better than the previous four is because Stallone didn't feel like he had to prove anything this time. He took a more true to self approach, basing everything in the slums of Philly, he wrote it about himself therefore making acting much easier. The introspection into loneliness, anxiety of loosing a legacy and fear of defeat is much more powerful than in the previous movies because the previous movies were made to be James Brown, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T cameoing powerhouse "action" films. This is a drama, much like the first Rocky and because of this, the final boxing match is not an action packed boxing match (although still gripping), it is more of a dramatic, intense battle of humans.
On a personal note, I love all the Rocky's to various degrees for various reasons. This one is going high on the list, but I am not sure how high yet. It was just so full of interesting satires about boxing, pride vs. humility, and modern life that I don't feel like getting into right now because the oven just dinged and I'm wildly excited for my frozen pizza.
One note of importance: I honestly had no idea who was going to win the fight even up to the very end. If that doesn't beat the old Rocky cookie cutter I don't know what does.
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