I Play Rocky Review: A Love Letter to the Making of a Classic

I Play Rocky is an entertaining look at the making of one of the most famous sports movies ever made.

And yes, I got a little sentimental at times.

Good points

• Anthony Ippolito is excellent, in fact most of the casting is.

• The film gives a decent sense of just how much Stallone had riding on getting Rocky made.

• Fans of the original Rocky will enjoy seeing some of the history behind its creation.

• Supporting cast are good.

• Peter Farrelly gets the balance of humour and emotion right.

Bad points

• There’s not much here that feels particularly surprising if you already know the story of how Stallone got Rocky made.

Plot

A true account of an unknown actor who believed he wasn't meant to just write "Rocky", but to play Rocky Balboa. Facing constant rejection, Sylvester Stallone risks everything, refusing to give up the lead role against impossible odds.

My Thoughts on I Play Rocky

The Story Behind the Film

I’ve watched Rocky more times than I can remember, as I am sure most of you have too, because it is on TV so often, and it’s always hard to resist the temptation to just watch it one more time.

It’s also a film that’s been talked about so much over the years that you probably know the basic story of how Stallone got it made, but until I had watched this one, I don’t think I really appreciated just how much Stallone was actually risking by refusing to let somebody else play the lead.

Stallone wasn’t an established star with a few million in the bank and nothing to lose, far from it - he was struggling, like so many wannabe actors, taking whatever work he could find, and suddenly he had a screenplay that people actually wanted to buy.

Most aspiring actors probably would have taken the money and worried about the next job later, but not Stallone - he wanted to be Rocky, and I did find myself getting quite caught up in those negotiations.

There’s a lot of money being discussed, producers trying to get a deal done and a studio executive who clearly thinks everybody has lost their minds, and to be fair, giving an unknown actor the lead in a boxing movie would be a pretty big gamble for anyone.

Anthony Ippolito

It’s fair to say Ippolito has a pretty difficult job here, because Stallone is hardly an obscure figure - everyone knows what he sounds like, how he moves and the way he delivers a line, but I thought Ippolito got it just right.

The resemblance is obviously impressive too, but what I really enjoyed was the personality he brings to the younger Stallone - he’s funny, awkward, determined and frustrating, and someone who has absolutely no intention of giving up on the one thing he believes he can do.

Ippolito had previously played young Al Pacino in The Offer, another series about the making of a hugely influential movie, so maybe he has found his niche?

The Supporting Cast Has a Lot of Fun

Matt Dillon is good as Frank Stallone Sr., but P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell as producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff were standouts, and their scenes provide some of the film’s funniest exchanges.

Tracy Letts is another highlight here, clearly having a good time as studio executive Sandy Maddox, and his scenes bring a bit of bite to the Hollywood negotiations - Stephan James also makes a very entertaining Carl Weathers, with a nice bit of humor around the casting process, particularly when you remember that neither Stallone nor Weathers were exactly seasoned boxers.

AnnaSophia Robb also deserves a mention as Sasha Czack, bringing some warmth to the film, and it’s nice to see somebody in Stallone’s personal life given a meaningful place in the story.

Movie Fans Will Love the Production Details

Once Rocky actually goes into production, there’s a whole different side of the film to enjoy, and this is where I started getting particularly excited, because I love seeing how classic movies were put together, especially when the filmmakers were working with limited money and time.

The recreation of the original production is great fun. Seeing the familiar locations, costumes and moments from Rocky brought back in this way gave me plenty to smile about. There’s also some interesting attention paid to the technical side of the shoot, including the use of Garrett Brown’s Steadicam.

That famous run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps is something we’ve all seen countless times, but the technology behind the shot was genuinely important - Brown’s camera work genuinely helped change what filmmakers could do with moving shots.

Peter Farrelly Gets the Tone Right

Director Peter Farrelly brings a lot of humor to the film, and that was the right decision - there are emotional moments, obviously, but the more casual exchanges and the ridiculous situations Stallone finds himself in, are the very best moments of the film.

The final stretch is particularly enjoyable for anyone who knows Rocky well. I won’t spoil the individual moments, but seeing the film come together and recognizing the work that went into those familiar scenes was a treat.

Rocky is hardly a film that needs an introduction to its emotional appeal, and this is simply a celebration of the people who made it happen.

Final Verdict

A thoroughly enjoyable film, regardless of if you are familiar with the OG, and it yet again made me want to revisit Rocky, and that’s no bad thing.

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