Rocky Balboa (PG, 2006)

Inspired once again by the memory of his beloved Adrian, 60-year-old Rocky Balboa comes out of retirement to fight the current world champion, an arrogant kid called Mason "The Line" Dixon (Antonio Carver), who embodies a business that's notoriously corrupt and dulled by mediocre talents. In other words, the time is right for Rocky's comeback -- he's positioned as the "authentic" fighter, compared to Dixon's commercial product. Though he's initially discouraged by his grumpy brother-in-law, Paulie (Burt Young), and resentful son, Rocky Jr. (Milo Ventimiglia), Rocky accepts Dixon's challenge. Believing that he still has "something in the basement," Rocky begins training for an exhibition match in Vegas. He's encouraged by local bartender and single mom Marie (Geraldine Hughes), who suffers emotional abuse from her boyfriend (whom Rocky quickly scares off). With family and new friends assembled, Rocky goes into familiar, montage-y training mode, jogging in the streets, drinking raw eggs, and performing extremely athletic push-ups (not to mention revealing a frankly stunning physique).

While ROCKY BALBOA is corny and predictable (following the same basic plotline as the others), it also offers an intelligent assessment of what makes Rocky so compelling. While Stallone has famously tried to break free of Rocky, with this movie he seems to grapple earnestly with the dilemma that the character presents. It's not a great film, but it is an intelligent, insightful movie about greatness.

The film actually references a controversial statue commissioned by Stallone for Rocky III, which was briefly installed atop the Art Museum steps, derided by many as a "movie prop" and eventually removed to the Wachovia Spectrum. The statue, like the reenactments by fans that close Rocky Balboa, speaks to Rocky Balboa's enduring appeal -- his awkwardness and banality, as well as his timelessness.

Studio: MGM/UA
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Burt Young, Milo Ventimiglia, Sylvester Stallone
Genre: Drama
Run time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release: December 21, 2006
DVD release: March 20, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: boxing violence and some language