The worst in the series

Rating: Null/10 (17 November 2000)

This is the worst of the Rocky films, though its not hard to point out the reasons why. Firstly the direction is slow, tiresome and not crisp enough. Secondly the plot - the explanation of Rocky's fortune disappearing? This is ludicrously explained. Not only that, its the only way Stallone can get his character back into what he once used to be - a humble character.
You can see why Stallone wanted to change his character so much, he grew more and more visably tired with the role - his emotions and screen presence became more and more uneven or "the just-don't-care" attitude. Perhaps he thought returning to the roots was the only way to go?
For some fans they want Rocky to fight super-duper-humans, or uber-eccentric guys, but it doesn't work, not any more - it would turn Rocky into a caricucture. That's why we have the brian damage story, it shows Rocky is not Mr Invincible.
Anyway the rest of the film is pretty boring and unevenly balanced. We get introduced to Tommy Gunn, who Rocky trains and suddenly becomes his adoptive son (doesn't Gunn have his own family?), Rocky's own son becomes more and more depressed and resorts into wearing ear-rings (I'm sure he was wearing make-up in one scene!) and fighting in school - ho hum, heard it before - when are we going to see something new?
Anyway Gunn always seems to played in a constant state of anger, perhaps because he was branded a puppet or robot - but that doesn't explain why he has to be so darn angry all the time - cool down damn it, your making this film unworkable.
Anyway the end fight sequence is pretty poor. The Don King-a-like is pretty hamy and is constantly annoying. The only good thing is the end credits.
2/10.