A little less conversation, a little more action

Rating: 6/10 (13 April 2020)

Having been underwhelmed by the first Rocky movie and disappointed by the sequel, I was not expecting much from this latest incarnation. However, it's actually quite good and probably my favourite of the series. It doesn't take itself as seriously as its predecessors, it's much shorter and there's a lot more action. The fighting scenes are also better; more strategic, more engrossing and more realistic (although Rocky would still die multiple times if this was real).
I really enjoyed the inclusion of Mr T and Hulk Hogan. Both are quite cabaret in this film and it really helps lighten everything up. Stallone's acting is as bad as ever but he looks amazing in this movie. Admittedly he looks more like a bodybuilder than a boxer but it's still an incredible sight. Talia Shire isn't as prominent in this film as the others but she is still comfortably the best actor on show. I was kind of glad to see the end of Meredith Burgess however, as his character was becoming increasingly banal and cliched.
This is a much more light-hearted offering than the first two movies, and while this may irk hardcore Rocky fans, I found it to be a big positive.