Taking the Hits: A Review of 'Rocky Balboa'

My sister was surprised to learn I was a fan of the Rocky movies. And I am. But not for the usual reasons.

Like any typical male, I enjoy the boxing, the fights and the training montages. One of the most inspirational tracks I ever listened to was "Hearts on Fire" from Rocky IV. If that doesn't compel you to hit the weights and start pumping some iron, your pulse needs to be checked. I'm no body-builder; don't get that impression. More of a treadmill/endurance runner. But having that song in your head, and visualizing Rocky pulling that weight of boulders and climbing the mountain just makes you want to hit your task, climb your own mountain, with the fire and determination that he displays.

The original 'Rocky' captivated me, along with the rest of its 30-year audience, on the strength of more than the fighting. Much more. It possessed heart. Desire. Will. Courage. Taking your shot and giving it your all. For some people, like Rocky, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The question is, when it comes, are you ready to accept the challenge? More importantly, are you prepared to face the obstacles life throws your way? Can you handle the defeats that will blaze your trail to victory? Can you turn those setbacks into triumph? Let them mold you into a better, wiser person?

Much as I enjoyed the sequels to follow, I felt that they began to lose the spirit of the original Rocky. Despite the overwhelming odds against him, he was no longer the underdog. He became more of a glorified cartoon superhero, facing competition that defied reality (Ivan Drago comes to mind). Oh, I still loved him, still rooted hard for him. But I think those films robbed Rocky of some of the 'everyman' charm that attracted me to him in the first place. In some cases, the stories came off as more comical than thought-provoking. I can't help it. The first Rocky made me think. What's the harm in holding its successors to the same standard?

(For that reason, I disagree with most people who bash Rocky V. In reality, it told a far better story than III and IV combined. But I respect and understand Sylvester Stallone's reasoning that the series deserved a better sendoff).

'Rocky Balboa' is not 'The Italian Stallion's' glorified return to the ring that he departed years ago. It's a character piece, an age-old story about life. We reunite with Rocky back in the neighborhood he grew up in. Long retired from boxing, he is living out a simple existance. He feeds his pet turtles, does chin-ups in his yard, and visits his wife Adrian each morning (she died from cancer sometime after Rocky V). He's a celebrated patron of a corner restaurant called Adrian's where he regales customers with stories from his days in the ring. His son Robert (Mike Ventimiglia) has grown distant with him, unable to escape the long shadow of his father. His old friend Paulie (Burt Young) is frustrated that Rocky is "living life backwards," not able to grow apart from memories of the past, grating on him with his reminiscing.

Then an ESPN simulated boxing match changes all that. Pitting Rocky (in his prime) against current heavywight champ Mason 'The Line' Dixon (Antonio Tarver), the show ignites a storm of controversy. Dixon reigns as the undefeated champ, but he can't buy a fanbase on account of his record. He's beaten nobodies, not any real fighters. People question whether or not he has the heart of a warrior, or could face the kind of odds that Rocky faced. Naturally, this frustrates Dixon, who doesn't want to busy himself with an aging fighter that he claims he could take with both hands tied.

This stirs something in Rocky, however. Despite his absence from boxing, he doesn't feel as though he's given it all that he can. There's "still some stuff left in the basement," he confesses to Paulie. Maybe part of it stems from Adrian's death, or a desire to show that, at his age, he can still go out and grab what he wants. All of a sudden, Rocky shows up at a local convention center to acquire a boxing license. At first, the panel is relucant to grant it, and they make a thinly veiled attempt to explain why, but Rocky passed their tests, and he is persistent. The next thing we know, we have the most celebrated exhibition match in history: Rocky vs. Mason.

I won't spoil any more of the plot for you, or tell you the outcome of the fight. I will say, though, that I went into this film with rather low expectations. Like many I thought with skepticism, "Another Rocky movie?" But as I said, this is more than just another film about Rocky. This is a character piece first and foremost. It's a tapestry with life lessons that are as vibrant today as they were three decades ago when the Italian Stallion first ascended those famed steps and raised both hands in triumph. It's far more than a fight-flick, I can promise you.

The fight is there, of course, with Rocky in his element. The training is there. We have "Gonna Fly Now" at the beginning, end and in-between. But they are reserved for the last 20 minutes of the film. Short but sweet. The important stuff comes first.

Sly Stallone reminds me all over again why I love the character of Rocky. Even after 15 years, he slips Rocky on like a comfy coat. I love his mannerisms, his gentleman-like aura, his way with words, and his easy-going but determined approach to living. Sly's acting has never been better; he really breaks new ground here as he not only brings us up to speed on who Rocky is, but grows and develops him at the same time. The scenes with Rocky petitioning the panel of trustees to give him the license and with his son outside Adrian's are the highlights of the movie.

The screenplay is fantastic. Dialogue flows naturally and rarely feels contrived or false. The pacing for the most part is solid. There are a few scenes that you wish would hurry up and move on to something else, along with others that cut away a bit too quickly, but it allows for the characters to come to life before our eyes. Some may fall asleep until the last 20 minutes, but that's their loss, in my opinion.

Like I said, this is not a boxing film. It's about life, what it does to you, the successes, the failures, and how you react to them. Life is full of hits, and just like a boxer, it knocks you to the mat, bloodies your face, and beats you senseless time and again. There's no preventing it, no way to avoid it. The question is, how do you respond? Rocky encourages us to take the hits and keep on moving forward. Now whether that sounds cliched in today's world or not, that makes me smile. Because in this day and age, accountability is disappearing faster than the pictures in Rocky's mind. More and more, we see and hear of people getting knocked about by the trials & struggles of life. Many times they'll either give up and take an easy way out, point the finger at someone or something else, or wallow in self-pity. They think it's not worth fighting back, showing life what for, or reaching out to grab what they want, even in the midst of overwhelming obstacles. Like money, poverty, illness or old age.

The point of 'Rocky Balboa' is that you won't always knock down those obstalces with the ease that Rocky knocks down his competition. Sometimes you will lose, or come up short. Or you'll succeed, snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. What counts is the way you handle it, how you use it to define the way you take the next round of hits from life coming your way. Do you become scared? Complacent? Angry? Confused? Your actions will determine your destiny. Your foundation will determine those actions.

Grade: A