Review of Rocky (1976) by Wayne K — 30 Aug 2015

Regarded as one of the original, and certainly most celebrated, sports biopics, Rocky tugged its audience's heartstrings and prized out every last one of their tears. Watching it today, I can understand why people fell for it so badly, but I can't really see why it's thought of as a traditionally 'great' movie.

It's takes a long time to get going, has a very sluggish pace and is very often bogged down by scenes of wallowing in pity and self-doubt. These are very familiar to anyone who's seen a modern sports bio, and back then they obviously weren't as well-worn as they are now, but the entire film still comes off as entirely predictable.

Rocky is the stereotypical underdog, he's going to struggle, he's going to have people doubt him and tell him he'll ever make it, he's going to get angry and alienate those close to him but in the end he's going to win everyone's respect.

I do like the twist at the end, but aside from that the whole film is by-the-numbers. Rocky starts out a very likable character, full of pep and always cracking jokes despite his destitution, but after a while he becomes the typical downbeat, I'll-never-make-it-so-why-should-I-even-try guy, and it sucks the life out of what could have been a much more entertaining film.