Rocky V

“Rocky IV” give not provide very much resolution to the Rocky series and so a fifth film was needed. Most say that even “Rocky V” did not close the franchise well enough. I can see why people say that but I still enjoy the film enough to watch it with the other films. There is some drama in “Rocky V” that was missing from the fourth film but unfortunately, we see Rocky lose more in this film than win. The story motif we are used to is missing also.

So as to finish this review on a good note, I will explain my reservations concerning this film first. It seems that by this point, Stallone was running out of ways to make Rocky an underdog and so he decided to take away Rocky’s money and ability to fight. The way that Rocky and Adrian end up back where they started seems too convenient from a story angle. If the filmmakers were trying to recreate the first movie, they didn't do it perfectly. This franchise has gone places that no one expected and to place our characters back where they originated from doesn't create drama but tragedy instead. Rocky's rags-to-riches story in the first film is so inspiring. If you take that away, you better give it back to him. By the end of the fifth movie, Rocky doesn't even get his loses back and that's a very big downer. He has what matters such as his family but he still lost all those possessions because of some unseen accountant. It is feels hollow. In past movies, if Rocky lost something, he would either get it back or find something to fill the void. When Mickey passed away, along came Apollo. When Apollo died, Tony was there. I can’t believe that Rocky was originally supposed to die in the movie. That makes absolutely no sense to me. If people think that the fifth film is a dud, that ending would have been one of the worst decisions for a film franchise. To conclude this piece of criticism, "Rocky V" was meant to bring back what was special about the first film but it would take over a decade to find that magic again. To hit the reset button, there has to be sincerity and logic. The financial loss that Rocky goes through didn't make sense.

Despite the aforementioned problems, this movie has some good stuff. I like the opening montage of the Drago fight, especially now that Bill Conti is back scoring the film. Also making a return is the Oscar winning director of the first film John G. Avildsen, having completed "The Karate Kid" franchise in the meantime. He is also co-editing this movie. I love the shot that mirrors the first shot of the whole saga where we zoom out from the mural of Jesus to the fight down below. For the second time in the saga, Stallone casts his real life son to play Rocky’s son, Robert (In “Rocky II”, it was his newborn Seargeoh). Sage Stallone does an okay job, especially in the argument scenes. I also like how Robert is able to stand up for himself against the bullies and at the same time, he makes peace with his old enemies. He becomes both his mother and his father by using his brain and braun. Stu Naham is present as usual and because of his reaction to Duke in the opening press conference, we get a sense of Duke's reputation as a promoter. Duke is a very good manipulator and becomes quite a villain in this movie. Clubber was a villain you loved to hate but by the end of "Rocky V", we just plain don't like Duke. Stallone writes a nice scene between Rocky and his son at the start so that their rift later in the movie will be felt on an emotional level. After Rocky loses his wealth, I like that he starts to run Mickey’s old gym. It just seems like the right thing for him to do now that he is back in the neighborhood. In the scene outside the pet shop and gym, Rocky knows that Adrian is right when she tries to get Duke to leave them alone. Even if Adrian hadn’t showed up, Rocky would have changed his mind once he talked to Adrian. The thing that is bothering Rocky during that conversation is the fact that Adrian is back working at the pet shop. That is the only thing on his mind and that is why he is letting Adrian do the talking because she is right. Then enters Tommy Gunn. It is just like Paulie to like Tommy at first but then change his mind. Rocky can tell right away that Tommy has a few flaws that stand in his way of being a good boxer. Rocky ends up training him though because he sees a chance to become part of the boxing world again and do well. His family can be helped financially through Tommy. He also wants to have a relationship like the one he had with Mickey. Unfortunately, Rocky takes his family for granted in the process. In trying to help his family, he ends up almost losing it. At the end of the “Go For It” montage, Duke gets an idea of how to get Rocky back in the ring. By keeping this in mind, we know that Duke cares nothing about the money he can make from Tommy but rather, he wants the money he can make by turning Tommy against Rocky. I like the irony of Duke ignoring Tommy on the street but then giving him money, a house and a car once he becomes a tool he can use to get Rocky to fight.

Tommy could have turned out okay despite his bad childhood but a couple of things led to his demise. First of all, Duke got to him. Second of all, Tommy doesn’t like the fact that he can’t step away from Rocky’s image. Finally, success goes to Tommy’s head. Rocky knows that money is not everything and so he is patient when it comes to Tommy getting a chance at the title. After a few victories, Tommy however only wants the glory and money that Rocky once had. Without Rocky’s spirit however, that won’t come to pass. Rocky now sees completely that Mickey’s “carrying” in the third film was the best thing for him and he tries to do the same with Tommy with no success. Rocky loses two “sons” on Christmas Eve but thanks to Adrian, he knows that his real son is going to be the loss he will regret for the rest of his life. It is a good scene when Adrian has said her piece to Rocky and breaks down crying. Robert does love his father deep down and so when Rocky comes to apologize, Robert is handling it in the same way that Rocky did when Mickey came asking to be Rocky’s manager in the first film. Robert just wants his dad to understand him and once that happens, Robert is quick to accept his father’s apology. I love the depiction of the Tommy & Cane fight because it shows Tommy that he has failed his fans and it shows Rocky that Tommy is truly lost. He won't be coming back. Tommy won the title without Rocky physically there but the crowd knows the truth. I laugh at how Paulie is cheering for Cane. I also like the press conference because the reporters show Tommy more than anything that Rocky’s shadow will never go away. I especially love Stu Naham’s joke about Tommy fighting his girlfriend. It is hard to tell if Duke's frustration with the press in this scene is genuine or a show to manipulate Tommy but either way, it benefits him in his plan and now comes his chance to get Rocky in the ring by getting Tommy to challenge Rocky. Despite the fact that the movie ends with a street fight, we still get the traditional joke beforehand and it is one of my favorites: “Ain’t no pie eating contest.” After Rocky comes out triumphant, Duke forgets for one moment that Rocky isn’t rich anymore. Hence the punch and the reply: “Sue me for what?” Father Carmine is a beloved character in the saga all because of the end of “Rocky V” with Stallone's line “I love it when he does that.” One may ask why I am different in my opinion of “Rocky V” than from other fans. I will admit that I should rate this film 3.5 stars out of 5 but one scene in "Rocky V" almost makes up for all the shortcomings. It is the flashback scene with Mickey before act two. The scene makes me cry every time because Burgess Meredith gives one of his best performance in the whole saga in my opinion and also because of Conti’s score. You never know how special someone is until their gone and Mickey’s reappearance in the saga through this flashback reminds us just how great an actor Meredith was and how influential the character of Mickey is on the sports movie genre. The scene is also well written and performed by Stallone. Some very deep stuff is expressed by Mickey and I share his beliefs about life and death.

The movie ends with “Measure of a Man” by Alan Menken and performed by Elton John (some of my favorite musicians). Stallone says that “Rocky V” was a mistake and I both agree and disagree. I like “Rocky V” because it has the drama that the fourth film lacked. The film is different in story structure however and it is missing a bit of closure. I would have liked it very much if the saga ended in a trilogy but Stallone got a little carried away. As unfortunate as that is, the story of Rocky is one of overcoming setbacks and the saga mirrors this. After the moderate sequels of “Rocky IV” & “Rocky V” and after 16 years, we get the concluding chapter that everyone loves.

4 Stars