Poor old Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is on his uppers, with brain damage and a cleaned-out bank account. He is forced to retire but decides to train a young protégé, Tommy Gunn (played by real-life boxer Tommy Morrison).
Stallone is no good doing grim and this sequel floundered so badly that in the end he “undid” it with Rocky Balboa (2006). Given that it would be impossible to surprise with such a prescriptive format, it’s a shame that the only real spark comes courtesy of Sly’s own offspring (Sage Stallone) as his screen son.
Despite John G Avildsen being back on board as director (he did the first Rocky, with Sylvester Stallone himself directing the intervening rounds), the emotional clout of the original has given way here to simple gestures and acting-by-numbers.
Rocky Balboa
Sylvester Stallone Adrian Balboa
Talia Shire Paulie
Burt Young Rocky Jr
Sage Stallone Mickey
Burgess Meredith Tommy Gunn
Tommy Morrison George Washington Duke
Richard Gant Tony
Tony Burton Jimmy
James Gambina Karen
Delia Sheppard Editor
Michael Sheehan
Director
John G Avildsen
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Despite John G Avildsen being back on board as director (he did the first Rocky, with Sylvester Stallone himself directing the intervening rounds), the emotional clout of the original has given way here to simple gestures and acting-by-numbers.
