For us Baby Boomers, Rocky Balboa (2006) gives hope that dreams still can be realized, even in our sixties. What I like most about this film–as in Sylvester Stallone's other Rocky films–is his down-to-earth honesty and goodness, and with the same virtues in most of his friends. Rocky is a man that you can trust. For him and his friends, their "yes" is yes and their "no" is no, and you don't have to read in between the lines. Geraldine Hughes, who plays Marie, is befriended by Rocky and given a job in his restaurant. Rocky's intentions are strictly honorable. You don't see that much between men and women in films today.
Rocky plays a father role to her late-teenage son, while Rocky's own son, who is caught up in false success, is given forthright instruction by his father. Paulie (Burt Young) returns as Rocky's old friend and believes that Rocky can stand up in the ring to the Champion, the young Mason Dixon, played by Antonio Tarver. It's good to have friends who believe in you.
Without giving the ending away, Stallone delivers a beautiful film, full of real emotions, that to anyone who has a dream and lost it would pick it right back up by seeing this film. Thanks Sylvester! Your success hasn't damaged your character.
~Van of Urantia*MPAA = Motion Picture Association of America
