A rocky start that ended with a Rocky finish!
We know the story. We know the outcome. And yet, after watching I Play Rocky, I came away with a renewed appreciation for the man behind one of Hollywood’s most beloved underdog stories.
This was the best feel-good movie I’ve seen in a long, long time. It had everything going for it: heart, soul, determination, and a real-life story that reminds us what can happen when someone refuses to give up on a dream.
The entire audience was clapping at the end. I can’t remember the last time I witnessed that kind of spontaneous reaction – except, perhaps, at the very end of Rocky itself.
The film takes us back to the early struggles of Sylvester Stallone, long before he became a household name. He had written a script he believed in, and he was determined to play the lead himself. Hollywood had other ideas. The odds were stacked against him, but Stallone held firm to his vision, even when taking the easier road might have meant sacrificing the very thing he believed in.
We all love to root for the underdog. But there’s something especially satisfying about watching someone fight not just for a chance at success, but for the right to tell his own story.
Directed by Oscar-winner Peter Farrelly (Green Book), the film stars Anthony Ippolito as Stallone. The resemblance is uncanny – not just in his appearance, but in the way he speaks and carries himself. He brings Stallone to life in a way that makes you forget you’re watching an actor portray someone whose story we think we already know.
And behind every great struggle, there are often people who provide the support needed to keep going. Stallone’s wife, Sasha, played an integral role, offering the kind of support that can make all the difference when a dream seems just out of reach.
What makes this story so uplifting is the reminder that success rarely arrives overnight. Sometimes, it begins with a belief in yourself that nobody else shares.
We already know what became of Rocky. What makes this story worth telling is remembering just how much determination it took to get there.
A Rocky Footnote
As a personal aside, I had the pleasure of meeting Carol Connors at the Palm Springs International Film Festival last January. She earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for co-writing “Gonna Fly Now,” the iconic theme from Rocky. Her documentary, Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, received a Best of Fest recognition at the festival.
Talk about a personal connection to movie history!
The festival has now come to a close, but you can check out the VIFF movie lineup all year long here:
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