Good fun but a long way from the original

Rating: Null/10 (25 March 1999)

The fourth installment in the Rocky saga reaches new heights of predictability. Whereas the original film blossomed with plot, character development, and a thrilling conclusion, Rocky IV gives us another revenge plot (Rocky fights Drago to avenge the death of Apollo Creed), no character development, but the final fight sequence is done well, even if it is unrealistic. For instance, if Drago can punch 4 times harder than any other heavyweight how come Rocky isn't pulverised? This is a bad film, but it's just so good at being a bad film.