Review of Rocky (1976) by Ryan V — 04 Mar 2015
Rocky (Sylvester Stallone, who also wrote the screenplay) is an amateur boxer who supports himself by working on the docks and debasing himself as collection muscle for a local loan shark. He gets an unexpected shot at greatness when the heavyweight champ (Carl Weathers) randomly chooses him for a fight as part of a promotional gimmick.
Depending on your tastes, Rocky is a heartening underdog fable or a sentimental fountain of sports cliches that inexplicably won the Oscar for Best Picture. I found myself enjoying this film thanks to Stallone's grounded performance and the story's insistence on keeping things character-driven.
The sequels, which get exponentially more cartoonish with each further installment, often lack either of these components.
This review of Rocky (1976) was written by Ryan V on 04 Mar 2015.
Rocky has generally received very positive reviews.
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