Rocky II - 1979
There is a very strong case that Rocky II is not the BEST of the entire franchise (see my review on the first film for more on this), but it may very well be my favorite. Or at least it was at one time. As a youth, Rocky II and IV were the top dogs. I wore out my VHS taped from TV copies of both films. It's probably rather obvious why I dug the latter so much (iconic villain, sick montages, perfect preposterousness, and an endcap post-fight speech for the ages to name a few), but the question remained. What is it about II that had me so locked in?
Well, I suppose that one could put it tersely as this - Rocky II is just a Rocky rehash with a better closing fight. It's like someone looked at the original and said, "Let's play the hits!" To flesh out this claim (which I don't entirely believe, by the way), let's dive a little deeper. Structurally, the sequel is very akin to its predecessor. The film begins out of the ring and in the streets and neighborhoods. The first hour is slow and methodical, reveling in the most adorably romantic relationship around. Where the original has the meet cute and ice rink stroll, the sequel has a tundra-like sequence in the Philly Zoo ("I'll send ya an invitation, Mr. Tiger!"), a modest wedding, and a first home buying.
After the acclaim thrust upon him following the first exhibition, Rocky thinks he's finally getting out and "making it." He buys a fancy sports car, watches for Adrian and Paulie, a black leather coat and the aforementioned real estate. But, alas, it's not here to stay. Rocky can't act his way out of a paper bag. He loses the fight residuals in an embarrassing attempt at being an ad-man. He can't really read "too good" either. So where does that leave him?
Well, pretty much back where the first film starts. With a blue collar man who just cannot find his way comfortably into manual labor. With a man who loves his gal (now bride) so much that he's willing to give it all up to try to do the regular working class living "thing" for 40 to 50 years. But, it doesn't work. The ring calls to him. It's IN him. Moreover, Apollo starts to realize his ego is a little wounded. People say maybe he actually LOST the first fight. In any case, he wasn't clearly the champ. So Weathers takes to the airwaves Ali-style to taunt Balboa and draw him out of what he's termed his fearful "hiding."
Viewers recall where things go from there. Rock takes a stand against his pregnant bride and calls on the iron fury of Mick to ready him for a rematch. But, knowing the kind-hearted galoot that the man is, we know it'll never stick. The apathy with which he approaches his training used to be one of my greatest criticisms of the film. Then I read about a night when Roger Ebert watched it with the Greatest, and do you know what Ali said? That it was TOTALLY accurate. "You can't keep your mind on fighting when you're thinking about a woman." This all changes when Adrian doubles over at the pet store and slips into a coma.
Fortunately for us, in the least surprising development imaginable, Adrian soon awakens. But not before we get some drawn out hospital sequences and a memorable Mick soapbox in a tiny chapel. Feeling that his failure to work steadily sent Adrian back to a part-time job where her overexertion started the coma in the first place, Rocky's focus turns only to his love. He's at last surrendered his dreams at the altar. It's at this moment when Adrian' s hand moves slightly and her eyes flutter open. "I want you to do one thing for me," she says as she pulls him close. "WIN." And then again.
Mick (and every living, hot-blooded man in the world): "WELL WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR??!!"
And thus begins one of the greatest final thirds of a film I've ever seen. Like I said before, it plays the hits. The music returns with the outdoor jogs, but II ups the ante considerably. First one, then another, and a few more, finally a whole throng of CHILDREN join the man as he streaks across the Philly landscape to a soaring chorus. As the track reaches its apex, Stallone finds another gear and sprints the final straightaway before dashing up those same Art Museum steps and raising his hands triumphantly once again. It's an all-time great sports movie moment. Hell, it's an all-time great cinema moment PERIOD. And, in the age of COVID where I can't stand closer than 6 feet to a stranger, it left tears falling from my eyes.
But that is only the beginning, friends. Now, at last, we get to the fight. I could talk about the writing and directing choices of Stallone in the sequel. Weathers, Burt Jones, Burgess, or Tony Burton's inspired performances. The steadiness of Shire. But really those are all pretty much better in the first film. The one thing that is NOT superior is this: the finale. Oh, it's completely absurd. Nobody lifts their hands to play defense. Rocky's eyes are beyond gone. In that same convo, Ali said there's no way that fight in actuality plays through to the end.
But, we don't care. Because despite its cuteness and coyness and more roughshod plot in parts, Rocky II gives us all-time great chill moments. It fills up the heart, gives life to the soul, and quickens our pulse. It's a war for the ages and a finale which lives in the stratosphere. Call that special magic what you will - giddiness, glee, exultation. I become a joyous little kid again every time I see it.
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