Shame about the cheesy ending

Rating: 8/10 (28 April 2019)

There's no denying that Rocky 4 is pure entertainment. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it would've got 8 out of ten but for the ridiculously cheesy ending. Stereotypical East versus West premise was fine. And injecting Drago? Did the filmmakers know something we didn't! Putting aside the preposterous premise, there was real emotion in the film, especially the aftermath of Creed's death and Rocky's guilt, which was mercifully left unsaid, but SS' admirable acting together with cleverly placed flashbacks ensured you knew the guilt of Rocky not throwing in the towel (despite Creed's instructions not to) was eating away at him. To be fair I can't remember a film I've enjoyed so much yet only given it 7 out of ten, so perhaps deserves an 8 and I should just forgive the cheese on this occasion. Okay, 8 out of ten.