Predictable, But Fun

Rating: 6/10 (27 December 2001)

Rocky II represents a decent enough follow-up to the original movie. The primary problem with it is its predictability. Rocky struggles to make a go of it without boxing, but we know from the very beginning that he's going to get back into the fight game. Otherwise, there's no movie. As in the first movie, the fight between Rocky and Apollo Creed is magnificently choreographed (although - and I have this problem with the entire "Rocky" series - heavyweights just don't punch like that; at least not in any fight I've ever seen) but, again, the result is rather predictable (although how the result comes about is a bit of a surprise.) But one of the great things about the original was the unpredictability of the fight. Would Rocky win or lose? As I recall when I watched the original for the first time, I really didn't know. This time, you know. I mean, the result has to be the way it turns out.
The performances here are decent. Sylvester Stallone was born to play Rocky Balboa. There's no doubt about that. He puts on a believable enough portrayal of a frustrated ex-fighter, unable to make his way, with a wife who doesn't want him fighting. Carl Weathers provides a fuller look at Apollo Creed, battling his personal demons after the embarrassment of his disastrous first match with Rocky. Talia Shire was I thought weaker in this movie. Adrian came across to me as more window-dressing than substance, and Burgess Meredith continued to be the epitome of the gruff old trainer.
Predictability aside, I enjoyed the movie, although it was definitely not up to the standard of the original.
6/10.