Worthy sequel

Rating: 7/10 (11 July 2003)

*** out of ****
The second installment in the Rocky series picks up right where the first one left off. Apollo Creed, feeling the heat from the public, after barely edging out Rocky Balboa in their title bout, wants a rematch. Despite having said he didn't want one at the end of the first film. Rocky refuses, opting to retire, marry his girlfriend Adrian, and find a respectable job. But, this proves to be a harder task than he had originally expected, due to his limited education. Soon Rocky finds himself out of work and, worst of all, his wife Adrian, pregnant with their first child, once again working a dead end job at the pet store. Rocky decides that the only solution to his problems is to fight. Soon enough, against his wife's wishes and the reluctant help of his trainer Mickey, Rocky is once again training for a heavyweight bout with Apollo Creed. yes, it sounds a bit like an after school special and sometimes plays like one, but despite some cheesy and hokey aspects, it is highly entertaining. Plus there is a killer training montage and a heavyweight finale. Almost everyone from the first one is back, with the addition of Father Carmine. As well as writing the screenplay, Sylvester Stallone also directs and does a pretty good job at it.