This movie gets no respect.

Rating: 6/10 (8 April 2020)

This movie is a lot better than the critics or the public gives it. Rocky faces the same fate as many fighters suffer. By signing what he thought was an extension for his taxes turns out to be a blanket Power of Attorney giving his accountant total access to his assets. This was under the advise of his sage Paulie his brother-in-law. My first question why go to Paulie? While in Russia getting the heck beat out of him the accountant takes all of the assets in order to invest in a real estate scheme where the accountant to flip it and take the profits with nobody the wiser. When the bottom falls out Rocky is facing a giant tax liability plus the mortgage on his beloved house is delinquent which is a shock since it was paid for in cash/ Now the easy thing to do is to take a couple of easy fights. Of course Paulie is all for it since it isn't his body But sensing something is wrong insist on a battery f tests. Turns out the test show damage so Rocky hangs up the gloves. Enter the Don King like George Washington Duke who under his guidance can lift Rocky out of his plight. Despite being told "No" several times he persists. Then when a young hungry fighter shows up Rocky agrees to train him. Thinking he has a relationship like he had with his father figure Mickey Goldmill he becomes oblivious of the fact his family is falling apart. When Duke learns that there is no formal contract between Rocky and his charge he seduces the man away with the promise Rocky could still train him. But Duke's endgame is to get the two in the ring "Old Lion versus Young Lion etc". After beating a fighter "with more glass in his jaw" than a chandelier. Tommy Gunn thanks everyone who got him there but Rocky. Facing a hostile press at the post fight conference Tommy is beside himself. Duke seeing the opportunity convinces him he has to force into a match. Accosting at his favorite bar Rocky want no part and when Paulie confronts the man he's knocked down which Rocky challenges to a street fight. Now according to the documentary: "Rocky Going The Distance" the plan was for Rocky to die. The money people said or no you don't. I'm willing to wager had Rocky would have face Tommy Gunn in the ring and won people would have a different view of the movie.