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Coming out of retirement is big these days. If Jay-Z can do it, why can’t Rocky Balboa? So, sixteen years after releasing the widely-panned Rocky V, Sylvester Stallone steps back into the ring to give it another go.
It’s been years since the two-time heavyweight champ retired. Now in his 50s, Rocky struggles with the loss of his beloved wife, Adrian—as well as the distance that’s growing between him and his son (Milo Ventimiglia). Rocky runs a little Italian restaurant called (what else?) Adrian’s in South Philly—and he spends his days telling old boxing stories to his customers while his son spends his days working in an office in the city, living in his father’s huge shadow.
One night, ESPN broadcasts a computerized fight between yesterday’s champ, Rocky, and today’s heavyweight champ, Mason “The Line” Dixon (Antonio Tarver). When the computerized Rocky wins the fight, it gets people talking. It also reminds Rocky of his passion for fighting, and he decides that he’d like to get back in the ring again—just in a few small, local fights.
Word of Rocky’s newly-reacquired boxing license reaches Dixon’s posse, and they see it as the perfect opportunity to give Dixon’s career a much-needed boost. An easy fight with the old champ, they figure, could make Dixon look like a good guy—instead of the arrogant jerk that boxing fans think he is. All Dixon has to do is go easy on the old guy, and he’ll come out looking like a nice young man who respects his elders. Not only that, but it’ll make tons of money. So they propose the fight to Rocky. Determined to give it one last try, Rocky accepts the challenge—despite his son’s arguments—and he starts training again.
I’ll admit that I was pretty skeptical about this one. Come on…weren’t five Rocky movies enough? Is the now 60-year-old Stallone so broke that he feels it’s absolutely necessary to subject moviegoers to both another Rocky and another Rambo (currently slated for 2008)? Apparently.
But no matter what you may think about Rocky’s comeback, it’s impossible to see Rocky Balboa without getting caught up in it just a little bit. Sure, it’s a bit corny. Sure, there are a bunch of ultra-serious pep talks. Sure, Stallone pulls out every last one of the tricks he’s got up his (very large) sleeve. But it works. It’s sentimental and melodramatic—and you can’t help but love it. By the time the old theme song starts playing and the customary training montage begins, you’ll be hooked. And by the end, even the biggest cynics will be cheering along with the rest of the crowd.
It may not be the most brilliant film. It may not garner any big awards. But Rocky Balboa is an entertaining and even (dare I say it?) inspiring film. Maybe now Stallone will feel a little more comfortable about retiring his well-loved boxer—because he’s definitely ending on a high note.
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