344. Rocky 4; movie review

 

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ROCKY 4

Cert 12A

92 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, bloody images

This is what happens when a franchise becomes so big that its makers have forgotten what made their concept special.

Rocky's first three episodes were not solely about boxing - they gave a fascinating social commentary without being nakedly political.

However, Rocky 4 concentrates too much on fisticuffs and blatantly cashes in on the bad blood between the East and West during the Cold War.

Its fans and Sylvester Stallone might point to its box office return of $300m on a $28m outlay as a mark of success.

But it isn't a good film, lacking the charm of the first two movies which was already disappearing in episode three.

I admired how the first two pictures avoided cliches but Rocky 4 is festooned with them.

For example, there is an out-and-out Russian villain in the shape of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) - a boxer whom scientists have made physically stronger than any in history.

Then there are the humourless Soviets who surround him.

Anyway, Rocky's new-found pal, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers,) is bored in retirement so agrees to an exhibition match against the Soviet giant.

This turns into a fatal mistake as his robot-like opponent unleashes brutality.

Tragedy prompts Rocky to seek revenge against the much larger man despite fears of him being sent the same way as Apollo.

The film begins with a fight, is then focused on Rocky's training regime in Russia and ends with the inevitable bloody punch-up.

In between, it is as if the film-makers are showcasing the best of 80s soft rock to go with the shoulder pads and newly tousled big hair of Rocky's previously mousy wife Adrian (Talia Shire).

Thankfully, smiles are occasionally raised as Paulie (Burt Young) chucks in a few of his usual comedy lines but they are overshadowed by the West vs East political nonsense.

Oh, and then there is Brigitte Nielsen who played Drago's wife and manager and in real life briefly became Stallone's spouse.

It all adds up to a movie which is far too brash.

After Rocky 3, Stallone said that enough was enough. If it hadn't have been the lure of another big pay-day, he surely would have kept to his word. He should have done.

Reasons to watch: Rocky without the charm

Reasons to avoid: The overplaying of the America vs Russia storyline

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 4.5/10

Did you know? Sylvester Stallone told Dolph Lundgren to just go for it and really hit him. His heart swelled from the force of the punch and he had to be rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

The final word. Sylvester Stallone: "I said, 'Everyone's gonna hate this guy because he's flawless. He's 6-foot-6 and no flaws, no weaknesses.' I said, 'This is interesting because Rocky's just the opposite. He's really flawed. He's a throwback, and you're a throw-forward. And we both can fight and we both got perfectly contrasting styles.'"

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