“Rocky”

In 1976, audiences were introduced to Sylvester Stallone and Rocky Balboa. The original “Rocky” has very little action, except in the final scene. Frankly, the film really isn’t about boxing at all; rather it’s a story about losers. Rocky Balboa is a bum, living in a ghetto in Philadelphia, surrounded by other bums, gangsters and losers in general. That’s the film’s appeal; the hope it gives to anyone down on their luck that one day they will get a break.

Rocky is past his prime, which was pretty underwhelming. We learn that he could have been a good fighter, but chose instead to work for a loan shark. Then, through a twist of luck, the world champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), offers him a shot. It’s a publicity stunt, but Rocky takes it seriously. Despite his lack of intelligence, Rocky seems to understand that all the bums he knows are going to take advantage of him, but they see his break as their opportunity too. Rocky’s a lot smarter than he looks, but it’s his big heart that everyone loves and keeps coming back to after four sequels.

The sequels fall short, because they are more about boxing and less about people. There’s his girlfriend Adrian, her brother Pauly and his trainer Mickey. Each of the actors received Oscar nominations, including Stallone for acting and writing. The film won Best Picture and Best Director for John G. Avildsen, but the audiences keep coming back, because we want to see Rocky, the ultimate underdog, kick everyone’s butt.