CNS Movie Review: Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Writer-director-star Sylvester Stallone scores an emotional knockout with "Rocky Balboa" (MGM), the sixth, and ostensibly final, round in the "Rocky" saga.

After several lightweight sequels, many considered the franchise down for the count, and the idea of Stallone stepping back into the ring at age 60 certainly provided much fodder for jokes. But the movie, like its iconic South Philly underdog, proves it has enough heart to go the distance.

Arguably the best in the series since the Academy Award-winning 1976 original, this new chapter finds the former heavyweight champ a widower, his beloved wife Adrian lost to cancer. His relationship with his grown son, Rocky Jr. (Milo Ventimiglia), is strained, as the latter is having a hard time living under his famous father's oversized shadow.

When not sitting at Adrian's grave, Rocky regales patrons at his restaurant -- a shrine to both his boxing career and his dead wife -- with stories from his glory days.

Burt Young returns as crotchety but loyal brother-in-law Paulie, accompanying the pug on strolls down memory lane, as Rocky, a much lonelier and more haunted figure here, wanders amid ghosts. "You're living backwards," Paulie growls.

The leisurely setup marks a departure from the macho flash and music-video pacing of past "Rocky" sequels and a welcome return to the character development and sentimental drama of the first movie.

Of course, it wouldn't be a "Rocky" film without a fight.

This time, Rocky comes out of retirement after an ESPN computer simulation pits the "Italian Stallion" in his prime against the current champ, Mason "The Line" Dixon (Antonio Tarver), in a fantasy match, and Rocky is calculated the winner. Dixon challenges Rocky to a friendly "exhibition" bout. Cue Bill Conti's rousing "Gonna Fly Now" score, as Rocky sweats his way through another grueling training montage and one last sprint up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

With Adrian gone, Rocky finds emotional, albeit platonic, support in a local barmaid, Marie (Geraldine Hughes), whom he tried to set on the right track way back in the first film.

Those expecting a typical "Rocky" climax won't be disappointed. And while the final match is short, the outcome -- which brings the story full circle -- will have you cheering.

The new movie reminds us what we loved about the original. Neither is ultimately about boxing, but both use the prizefighting ring as a metaphor for the inner arena of the human soul; remember, the opening image in the original "Rocky" is the face of Christ -- with Rocky representing the indomitable spirit of man not to be beaten down by life's hardships.

Like Rocky's tableside tales, Stallone has told us this story before, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. In a world where cynicism is often confused for seriousness and mediocrity lauded, the "Rocky" films celebrate fortitude and giving it your all, win or lose. Whether the obstacles are physical or spiritual, the inspirational message here is that it doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down, but that, as Rocky puts it, "you keep on goin'." Perhaps trite, but true.

The film contains some bloody boxing violence and a few mildly crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.

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Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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