Characters and Boxing Make This Work

Rating: 6/10 (15 December 2018)

There are only two things that make this cinematically schmaltzy (dated freeze frames) and emotionally cheap (Adrian's coma) sequel worth watching. One: the final fight is actually a bit better than the first film. Two: Stallone still seems to realize that the characters, specifically the titular one, are what makes these movies fly; so even when the story feels recycled or predictable, we're still invested because of the heart of these lovable people.