Ridiculous? Very much so but Stallone makes us believe this story...

Rating: 8/10 (12 November 2005)

Fourth entry in the story of the Italian Stallion this time he finds himself fighting for America against a Soviet monster of a boxer. After regaining his title at the end of III Rocky is somewhat taking it easy.The tone of the first film is completely gone.We know this when Rocky gives a robot to his free loader of a brother-in-law Paulie.A new boxer from the Soviet Union has risen named Ivan Drago the sports writers are very much interested in him.Apollo Creed Rocky's good friend and trainer challenges Drago to a fight.Rocky and Adrian protest saying he isn't ready for a fight but Creed won't listen.Creed is beaten to a bloody pulp and dies in Rocky's arms. Rocky challenges Drago to a fight to regain his friend's honor. The fight is a media frenzy.Rocky flies to the Soviet Union and trains in the wild vigorously. Drago on the other hand has a specially training aid as Dolph Lundgren himself said in the recent I Love the 80's special on VHI, he was a juicer.
Does this movie make a bit of sense? No not in the least bit. Drago's punches have enough force to punch Rocky's head right off his shoulders.The story is cheesy.And Rocky's We can change speech is cornball behind belief. But Rocky IV is a good film and one I would recommend.The atmosphere,and the acting pulls you in and makes a horrible script work.Stallone successfully makes you look past reality and clichÃ©s to entertain you. Rocky IV is probably the best popcorn film ever made.It certainly helped Dolph Lundrgen's career,the man's a horrible actor but his mere presence in Rocky IV is enough to scare the hell out of you.