Ah, the 1980s...

Rating: 4/10 (13 June 2006)

Yes, the 1980s... A time when the ozone-layer was torn apart by hair-spray, overproduced synth-pop ruled the airwaves, MTV and... the Cold War. And where there's a war, there had better be good propaganda to keep your spirits up.
Enter Rocky IV.
The story is quickly told: Rocky loses coach, avenges him, and shows Russian Commies that America will never succumb to whatever they might bring on. Better dead than red, anyone? Apart from the brain-dead story, you DO have fantastic 80s production value: The soundtrack is high-rate, at least if you like 80s pop/rock. Quick cuts show the influence of music videos, a change to the slower pacing of movies 1-3. So it's actually quite a viewing experience if you completely focus on the visuals, and forget about the story.
Finally: the acting is amazing. That Dolph Lundgren can control his facial expression and not break out in hysterics all through the movie is quite a feat!
An impressive example of 1980s propaganda movies - a sport-movie cousin to "Red Dawn" and, of course, Rambo 2 and 3. Good for a lot of laughs.