Amazon plans to take hold of Thanksgiving weekend with their latest offering I Play Rocky, a story based on the true events behind the making of the now iconic Sylvester Stallone boxing film Rocky. Though it may be a bit too conventional for its own good, this true story is nearly impossible to resist with its boundless charm and emotionally satisfying underdog story.
I Play Rocky centers on a young Sylvester Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) as he struggles to make a life for himself, bouncing from one thankless job to the next as he pursues his lifelong dream of becoming a professional actor. Unfortunately, he’s had no success in making that dream a reality so he decides to write his own film with himself in mind for the lead in order to carve his own path. His script attracts the attention of Hollywood producers Irvin Winkler (P.J. Byrne) and Robert Chartoff (Toby Kebbell) who want to make his script into a feature film with a bigger name actor in the lead. However, after remaining headstrong and refusing one enticing offer after the next, Stallone is granted the role, but with serious strings attached that all but ensure his failure. Against all odds, Stallone and a modest film crew aim to make the next great boxing film that would become Rocky.
Tales of the troubled and arduous production of the original Rocky film have bounced around for decades, but seeing a film dedicated to the making of the film and Stallone’s rise to fame had boundless potential. However, this film rests on who you cast as the beloved actor, a wrong choice tanking any chances of success. Fortunately, director Peter Farrelly chose perfectly in Ippolito who is nothing short of remarkable in the role. The talented young actor is able to embody Stallone to an eerie and seemingly effortless degree, emulating his voice, mannerisms and physicality down to his micro expressions. Not only is he able to physically embody the man, but he’s able to deliver a magnetic and emotionally compelling performance to boot, making Stallone easy to root for and emotionally invest in throughout. Simply put, this is a performance that breezes by sheer imitation and solidifies itself as one of the year’s finest.
The supporting turns here are excellent as well. AnnaSophia Robb is terrific as Sasha, Stallone’s wife. Their relationship is in many ways the warm beating heart of the film, the chemistry between her and Ippolito palpable and natural as the two navigate the hurdles of their relationship. Byrne and Kebbell are also fantastic as Winkler and Chartoff respectively, the two bouncing off one another harmoniously as they make these Hollywood producers far from hollow caricatures. However, Tracy Letts nearly steals the film as Sandy Maddox, a studio executive who continuously fails to believe in Stallone’s project, especially in him as an actor taking on the pivotal lead role. He easily gets the biggest laughs of the film, Letts relishing every verbal barb with fiendish delight as he makes what could’ve easily been a thankless role substantially more.
This is also a handsomely made and lovingly crafted film from Farrelly. His confident and assured direction coupled with the warm, wonderfully filmic cinematography from DP Sean Porter not only fully immersive the audience in the time period, but are able to faithfully recreate iconic scenes from Rocky with flair and a clear affinity for the material. Farrelly never gets in the film’s way, letting his actors shine and this underdog story do the heavy lifting as he passionately brings it to its inevitable finish line. Farrelly has never been a particularly showy director, having worked in comedy for the majority of his career, but those sensibilities lend well to the material here, never drawing too much attention to himself and rightfully keeping the spotlight on the story and characters.
The film also has a winning blend of humor and heart. The humor is never overplayed or wrought and the emotional beats of the story feel earned, as formulaic and predictable as they may be. The story of the making of this iconic film becomes endlessly entertaining, the film maintaining a light, breezy pace that allows its two hour plus runtime to seemingly fly by in a flash as Stallone and his crew encounter and attempt to overcome one hurdle after the next to get the film in the can. This is the kind of film where even if the audience knows where the story will eventually conclude, the journey to get there is so enjoyable and entertaining that it’s hardly a setback or significant issue.
However, the film’s conventional storytelling leaves very little room for any swerves or surprises. Audiences will be able to predict every narrative beat and character trajectory from miles away, the film rarely straying from the tried and true formula it’s firmly adhering to in order to please them. Making matters worse is the fact the film hardly delves into Stallone himself, instead deciding to focus more heavily on the making of his film than the man who wrote it. There are glimmers and breadcrumbs of his backstory and upbringing, but these facets of the story are unfortunately glazed over for the sake of pacing and momentum. As a result, audiences will walk away from this film hardly gleaning any new information about the man that they didn’t already know, quite the disappointment when considering all the potential that is left stewing on the table.
4 out of 5 stars.
I Play Rocky may play it a bit too safe when it comes to telling this fascinating and thrilling true story, but this is the kind of film that is a notable reminder that sometimes if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. This is the very definition of a crowd-pleaser, destined to entertain audiences in spades with its infectious charm and emotionally engaging story. However, as entertaining as this film may be, it would’ve benefited significantly from not just exploring the man in the ring, but taking off its gloves and exploring him outside of it as well.
Grade: 4/5 Stars
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