Rocky Balboa

The last ride of the Italian Stallion seems more of an attempt to recapture the thrill of his first run around the track. While it doesn't succeed, it was worth it just to make this the last volume of the series.

The plot: Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is 60, running a restaurant named after his late wife Adrian, and stuck in the past. He visits Adrian's grave so regularly that he keeps a folding chair in the tree near her headstone. The old neighbourhood has run down, the store where she used to work is empty and the ice rink where they first skated and kissed has been demolished. Then along comes a TV show that runs a computer simulation that claims that the young Rocky would beat the crap out of the current champ, now more than 30 years his junior.

The current champ (can't remember his name and won't bother to look it up) isn't impressed by this and his manager convinces him to agree to an exhibition fight with Rocky in order to boost his image. Apparently he is so dominant that the fans hate him, believing that he always fights 'easybeats'. The Rockster agrees and the match is set for Vegas.

There is also a side story of Rocky's son trying to cope being in his old man's shadow. Needless to say, after some sage words from Rocky they sort things out and the kid is in his pop's corner for the big fight.

The fight is the usual brawl that Rocky fights become, playing to the former champ's strength. The younger fighter finally gets a fight that is worthy of his skill, but ultimately, Rocky loses a split decision to the current champ and leaves the auditorium to the cheers of the crowd.

In summary: This was clearly intended to mirror the first Rocky film, from the training right through to the lost decision at the end of the fight. Stallone wrote and directed this film and was aiming to give his character a fitting ending. This is certainly the best ending that we could have hoped for - Rocky bowing out in triumph and without brain damage.

The rating: 6 out of 10. Although I note above that the film gave Rocky a proper avenue to depart the celluloid world, it was a bit too much of an indulgence for Stallone in many areas. If you hadn't seen the original then this film would be almost pointless. If you have and are a fan, then this is a bit of a trip down memory lane, but doesn't manage to generate the palpable sense of struggle and achievement of the original. Perhaps I'm being too harsh, but it's my review.

The Casablanca comparison: The Rocky-Adrian love story is one of the backbones of the original Rocky film. Stallone tries hard to make it part of the last Rocky film. Would Rick have been the backward-looking, lonely figure that Rocky became if we saw him years later and Ilsa dies. I don't think so, if only because he had other friendships and causes. Rick transitioned from his solitary role at the end of Casablanca, where Rocky was always a loner in terms of friendships - well-liked and revered, but essentially a solitary fighter, never moving beyond.