While this can be considered a “guy” movie, it really has something for everyone. There’s no fighting until the end and this is really a good drama, with great lessons for viewers of all ages.

Rocky Balboa has now been retired for some time and decides to step back into the ring against local boxers. Meanwhile, the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Mason “The Line” Dixon, is undefeated, but deemed a weak champion due to his fighting second-rate fighters (ala Tyson). Suddenly the age old question comes up on a sports show, “what if an old style fighter fights a modern fighter, who would win?” And, of course, they use Rocky
vs. Mason and a computer-generated mock-up, which shows Rocky as coming out on top. It becomes the talk of boxing fans everywhere, eventually getting back to Mason and Rocky. Mason’s PR managers want to use it to Mason’s advantage by spinning it into a positive, with an exhibition, non-title match between Rocky and Mason. Both fighters reluctantly agree to it and prepare for the clash of the century!
I had low expectations for this installment of the Rocky saga. After part five, I thought the franchise was dead and buried. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. After the first few minutes, I knew this movie was different. I felt
like the old Rocky returned, the original Rocky we used to know and love. I consider this the perfect sequel to the first Rocky movie and that parts two through five can almost be skipped, especially part five which seems to have
been forgotten with this part six. I’m not sure but I think part 5 was ignored because in five, Rocky had sustained massive head trauma from fighting all those years and kept blacking out. Here, in six, Rocky has no head trauma and is just suffering from bouts of nostalgia, living in the past and feeling he has no purpose in life. Near the end he has some flashbacks, but nowhere near that of part five.
The story is simple, but this is far from the plot- less, mindless violence of most action, fighting movies. There is great character development of Rocky and of a few other characters. Mason’s a little less developed as a character, but the focus is on Rocky, so it’s not that noticeable.
Rocky is shown as a person and not just as a fighting machine. His wife, Adrian, passed away a few years ago and he’s struggling with being lonely without her. His adult son is upset that he’s living in his father’s shadow and Rocky doesn’t feels respected. Plus, Rocky feels like he’s lost his purpose, being retired as a boxer. Eventually, he decides to get his boxing license reinstated. This is a journey into the life, struggles and decisions of a man who began with nothing, fought his way to the top and has now found his way back to his humble beginnings,
yet never really changing his true good ways.
This movie left me with a good feeling and something special, which parts two through five did not.
There are a few problems I have. Well, not really problems, just inconsistencies. In part five, Rocky was rich and lost most of it due to the incompetence of his brother-in-law, Paulie, causing Rocky and his family to move back
to the old neighborhood. Now, if we say five didn’t happen, how did Rocky lose his money? He now only owns an Italian restaurant which in no way accounts for his wealth. On the other hand, if five did occur, it’s not talked about in six and Paulie doesn’t seem guilty. I still assume five didn’t occur because Rocky’s head injuries are gone. Although there was only about twenty minutes of fighting, which gave us an hour twenty of buildup and background, I felt a little disappointed the Rocky didn’t have a bout or two before the big fight at the end, but I’ll live.
The last problem is minor, but Rocky’s speaking voice and words are just a step too “intelligent,” compared to his earlier films.
This is a perfect way to end the franchise. I hope it’s the last, any more would feel forced. Sylvester Stallone still looks good for 60, but don’t think he’ll play an “athletic” role much longer.
Overall, Rocky Balboa is very good for this type of film and I consider it to be as good as the first one. It has many lessons to teach anyone who sees it, even non-sports fans. One of the best films of 2006. A definite must see.
Cast
Sylvester Stallone …. Rocky Balboa
Burt Young …. Paulie
Milo Ventimiglia …. Rocky Jr.
Geraldine Hughes …. Marie
James Francis Kelly III …. Steps
Tony Burton …. Duke
A.J. Benza …. L.C.
Talia Shire …. Adrian (archive footage)
Henry G. Sanders …. Martin
Antonio Tarver …. Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon
Pedro Lovell …. Spider Rico
Ana Gerena …. Isabel
Angela Boyd …. Angie
Louis Giansante …. Bar Thug
Maureen Schilling …. Lucky’s Bartender
Carter Mitchell …. Shamrock Foreman
Vinod Kumar …. Ravi
Tobias Segal …. Robert’s Friend #1
Tim Carr …. Robert’s Friend #2
Paul Dion Monte …. Robert’s Friend #4
Kevin King Templeton …. Robert’s Friend #5
Robert Michael Kelly …. Mr. Tomilson
Don Sherman …. Andy
Nick Baker …. Irish Pub Bartender
Rick Buchborn …. Tomilson Rocky Fan
Stu Nahan …. Computer Fight Commentator
Gary Compton …. Security Guard
Jody Giambelluca …. Dinner Patron
Frank Stallone …. Dinner Patron (as Frank Stallone Jr.)
Fran Pultro …. Father at Restaurant
Michael Buffer …. Dixon’s Inspector
Jack Lazzarado …. Dixon’s Inspector
Marc Ratner …. Weigh-In Official
Anthony Lato Jr. …. Rocky’s Inspector
Yahya …. Dixon’s Opponent
Gunnar Peterson …. Weightlifting Trainer
Bernard Fernández …. Boxing Association of America Writer
Bert Randolph Sugar …. Ring Magazine Reporter
Jim Lampley …. HBO Commentator #1
Larry Merchant …. HBO Commentator #2
Max Kellerman …. HBO Commentator #3
James Binns …. Commissioner #1
Johnnie Hobbs Jr. …. Commissioner #2
Barney Fitzpatrick …. Commissioner #3
Brian Kenny …. ESPN Host #1
Dana Jacobson …. ESPN Host #2
Skip Bayless …. ESPN Host #3
Charles Johnson …. ESPN Host #3 (as Chuck Johnson)
Matt Frack …. Robert’s Friend #3
Woody Paige …. ESPN Commentator #1 (as Woodrow W. Paige)
Jay Crawford …. ESPN Commentator #3
Lahmard J. Tate …. X-Cell (as Lahmard Tate)
LeRoy Neiman …. Himself
Mike Tyson …. Himself
Lou DiBella …. Himself
Joe Cortez …. Referee
Burgess Meredith …. Mickey (archive footage)
Ricky Cavazos …. Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
Dolph Lundgren …. Captain Ivan Drago (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mr. T …. Clubber Lang (archive footage) (uncredited)
Carl Weathers …. Man On Street (archive footage) (uncredited)
Directed by
Sylvester Stallone
Writing credits (WGA)
Sylvester Stallone (written by)
Sylvester Stallone (characters)
Article written by John Gugie, © 2007 butyoudontlooksick.com