Manipulation and narcissism...

Rating: 2/10 (15 March 2009)

As a director (especially one who directs himself), Sylvester Stallone shows no shame. He puts himself in front of the camera more than anybody else, sure--it's what "Rocky" fans want--but he's there to be pummeled and humiliated in close-up, to get his audience fighting mad. This way his revenge on the enemy will ultimately be that much more sweet. It's an old hat trick, passed down the Hollywood line, and Stallone doesn't even bother reinventing it, he just plows right ahead as if he were doing something new. Maybe he feels he's demonstrating a new form of manipulation, but it's hard to laugh it off when supporting players Talia Shire and Burt Young are used so pettily and cheaply (one big scene each). Stallone's Rocky Balboa matches jabs with Mr. T. as "Clubber Lang", who doesn't so much box as he does pound. This entry in the "Rocky" saga goes so far as to make Lang a killer. How's that for hedging your bets? *1/2 from ****