Pinnacle of 80's Cheese

Rating: 6/10 (21 December 2008)

Don't get me wrong, this is an entirely entertaining movie, but by the time this one came out, the Rocky series was definitely running out of steam. Once again we find our lovable protagonist in the "fight of his life" going up against a villain of super-human proportions. And once again he must overcome insurmountable odds to reclaim victory. This time Rocky isn't just battling for personal glory, but for freedom and democracy through-out the globe. The Cold War is an obvious inspiration for this derivation of the Rocky formula.
In this outing, Rocky must face his greatest foe yet: a seven-foot tall Russian of unimaginable strength, Ivan Drago. You see, Drago visits the United States to begin his career in professional boxing and desires to begin with the reigning champ, Rocky Balboa. However, Apollo Creed, thirsting for another bout in the ring, jumps at this chance to rekindle his warrior's fire. So, after reluctantly agreeing to help his friend prepare for this seemingly easy exhibition match, Rocky watches in horror as Apollo is brutally cut down by the Russian. So now the rather thin plot of the movie unfolds. Rocky must face his inner demons and journey to Russia and defeat his friend's killer.
It's pretty much by the numbers, not really straying from the Rocky formula. Nonetheless, Stallone is still able to produce a film that is watchable. He has basically taken the same concept of the original three movies and stripped it down to the bare bones, replacing cheesy montages for characterization and broad themes for introspection. One example of gloss over substance is a montage of Rocky dealing with his feelings after Apollo's death. It's like five minutes of clips from previous Rocky movies, even interspersing footage from earlier in Rocky IV! Did they really think that a overly long montage could replace some seriously needed emotional depth? I guess they saved a few bucks not having to film any original material. But somehow it all still works. There are two training montages, both with Rocky in the unforgiving Russian wilderness, paralleled with Drago's training sessions in laboratories with high tech machinery. They are both pretty effective.
Yes, the symbolism in this film are like broad paint brush strokes of two contrasting colors. Rocky is pretty straight ahead with little growth going on here. Yeah, he has to deal with his friend's death, but it's not like we hadn't seen this somber, sobering side of Rocky in the other three movies. Rocky and Creed's friendship was basically reduced to watching old reels of their fights together and calling each other by their nicknames. I couldn't count how many times Apollo referred to Rocky simply as "Stallion." Adrian's role in this movie was basically reduced to the disapproving then supportive spouse who gives Rocky that final push of inspiration to overcome. Gone is the affable wall flower of the earlier movies. She is basically a cardboard version of her earlier incarnations. Paulie is there to basically complain about everything.
Stallone also missed a chance with his villain, in my opinion. Drago, portrayed well by Dolph Lundgren, is a physically impressive heavy, but that is about it. He has a few lines, though they are some pretty good one liners, but other than that Rocky could have just been fighting a Kodiak bear for all that it mattered. There are hints that this character is more than just a brutish fighting machine. Perhaps Stallone left this up for the viewer to decide if Ivan Drago is really evil, unlike Mr. T's Clubber Lange from the earlier movie who was overtly so, but in the end he seems as flat and uninspired as the rest of the film.
The final fight is rather anticlimactic. The actual choreography is pretty shoddy as you can tell some of the hits aren't even close to connecting. No one ever blocks a punch, except maybe with their face, and there is no emotion here. Yeah, their corners are screaming at their respective fighters, and Rocky and Drago exchange some intense looks from across the ring, but it really adds up to not much as we know that Rocky isn't going to lose. In fact, after taking a beating from a fighter who registers 2000 psi per punch, and killed Creed in less than two rounds, Rocky seems less beat up than he did from his first fight with Apollo. Whatever.
As I was watching this movie again recently, I was wondering what exactly the final message was. It starts off like a pretty straight forward revenge flick of sorts, but near the end, Rocky is giving a speech to the entire USSR about change and brotherhood or something. I guess on further exploration, it could be trying to say that in the end, our emotions shouldn't rule our decision making and that we all have room to change, e.g. Apollo trying to regain his glory and impulsively entering a fight he couldn't win, Rocky pursuing revenge even though it wouldn't bring his friend back, and I guess even to a lesser extent Drago desiring to demolish his enemies in a sport that doesn't necessarily warrant it.
But who am I kidding. This film doesn't require or even request its' viewers to think that deep, unlike the original. It thrives on pure adrenaline, with a pumping sound track and fast paced montages. All in all, there is about half of a real movie here. Stallone should have stopped right here, but I guess if people still love watching the underdog movies, even at the most superficial level, why end a sure thing?
One last thought: Wouldn't it have been cool if Rocky went into the fight sporting that sweet beard he was growing there while training? Would have shown how raw he got out there in Siberia or wherever the hell he was. Now that would have been change we all could agree on!