Review of Rocky III (1982) by Andrew M — 14 Dec 2016

For the first act, Rocky III is a complete and utter mess. The quiet, character-based storytelling that made the first two films so sublime is shoved to the side as the film finds itself mirroring its title character: that is, glitzy and on top of the world. Rocky as a character loses the charm that makes him such a loveable and relatable character, at least temporarily, as he goes full-on superstar, entering a charity boxing fight with a cringe-inducing appearance from Hulk Hogan and other similarly over-the-top events. We're introduced to who will be Rocky's latest opponent, the punchy Clubber Lang. Played in an introductory role by Mr. T, Lang as a character is given little more to do than constantly shout at Balboa, mostly in ways that just feel goofy rather than intimidating.

Fortunately, as Rocky loses his "eye of the tiger", the film slows down and turns into the quiet sports drama you expect from the franchise, and that's the saving grace here. It's particularly nice to see the film take the angle it does, looking at a Rocky who essentially has no more room to climb. Whereas the first two films posed him as the underdog looking upwards, now he's in a dethroned champion role, a bit like the Apollo Creed character from the previous film. Characters are all given something to do and have a role to play in how the rest of the story progresses. Rocky faces something he has not yet faced in his career, especially after the mid-film twist: fear. Apollo Creed returns to the scene as a mentor figure to Rocky, teaching him all of his secrets and helping him find the passion that he's lost. Adrian has a big emotional monologue, seemingly having enough to being the reserved figure the films have previously established her as. The rest of the film plays out expectedly beautifully, culminating in yet another bout that, whether you like it or not, leaves you feeling great as Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now" blares once more. If you can make it through that messy first act, Rocky III is another satisfying entry in the beloved franchise.