I Watch Films: Rocky Balboa

 

Rocky Balboa

Fifteen years after Rocky V Rocky runs an Italian restaurant where he often entertains customers with his boxing stories. It’s called Adrien’s after his wife, who has died. He’s becoming estranged from his son Robert who is trying to make his own way in business, but everyone thinks of his famous father first. Meanwhile Paulie, Adrien’s brother, tries to help Rocky, taking him on a tour of places important to him and Adrien on the anniversary of her death, but then breaks down. These may be sad for Rocky, but they’re good memories, Paulie has regret for treating her badly.

Meanwhile Mason “The Line” Dixon is the heavyweight champion of the world, but they can’t find anyone able to stand up to him. This has boxing fans make fun of him, claiming he’s never fought a real contender. Possibly worse, it means that takings are down. Dixon returns to his roots, going to his old gym, talking to his old trainer, who tells him a contender is out there – somewhere.

Rocky finds a way forward, meeting Marie, a woman he knew when she was a girl in Rocky, now a single mother. His front of house at the restaurant is going on pregnancy leave so he gives both her and her son jobs, trying to keep the son, Steps, out of trouble. He also decides he’s going to get back into shape and get his boxing license back (apparently he no longer has the medical problems from previous films) and do a bit of local exhibition boxing. In the midst of this Paulie loses his job, and Rocky tries to keep him from spiralling.

Then the sports network sets up a computer simulation of Rocky (in his prime) versus Dixon, and decides for Rocky. This is controversial and becomes a topic of conversation across the boxing world, and in particular in Philadelphia, Rocky’s home town, to the annoyance of Robert.

The inevitable happens. Initially Robert tries to dissuade Rocky, then deciding that if he’s going to be in Rocky’s shadow, he might as well commit to it, he reunites with him and quits his job to join the team. Rocky, supported by Robert, Paulie and Duke, once Apollo Creed’s trainer, agrees to fight Dixon. Duke says that Rocky is getting old, can’t move or fight like he used to, but he can stand up and punch so they build up his strength and stamina. An exhibition match, before hand Dixon talks to Rocky privately (though Rocky brings Robert with him) saying that so long as Rocky doesn’t mess him about he won’t go too hard on him. Rocky affably pretends not to understand.

Haven’t we had Rocky come back from injury, or age, or setbacks enough times? Apparently not. The fight is pretty good, the drama a little lacking any edge or point but then that’s not really what the Rocky films were about. He helps his brother in law. He reconciles with his son. He’s popular, friendly, helps people in the neighbourhood. And maybe this – and being part of the biggest boxing match of the year – is enough to help him move on with his life. “It’s not about how hard you hit – it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

Watch This: Entertaining boxing film
Don’t Watch This: Unnecessary coda to ridiculous film series