Rocky V (1990) 104mins
NEW TO ME COUNT: 1
SEEN IT COUNT: 0
Yeah, OK, weird place to start I guess. I've been slowly working my way through the Rocky films recently to fill one of the many horrendous gaps in my film catalogue. I got put off for a while due to how run-of-the-mill Rocky IV is, but I was pleasantly surprised to see this one return to some decent form, an opinion which actually seems to be against the general consensus.
This installment sees Rocky go back to the streets, losing his career and his money as a result of brain damage brought about by his previous fight. Distracted whilst embarking on a managing career for new prospect Tommy Gunn (stop laughing at the back), Rocky takes his eye off his son and almost loses his family as well.
Whilst the beats of the film are obvious, and the attempt to take the series back to its roots is hardly subtle, I was thoroughly engaged with the story throughout. Rocky is as always an immensely likeable character and the focus on the relationship with his son is helped by the fact that Sylvester Stallone's own young son Sage played the role here. Rocky learning to become an effective manager and a barn storming street fight to finish things off mix it up just enough that you do feel you're not just watching the same story for a fifth time. Can't say fairer than that. Expect to see the next installment, Rocky Balboa, turn up on the blog very soon.
6/10
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