Rocky: Critic Reviews

The screenplay of Rocky is purest Hollywood make-believe of the 1930's, but there would be nothing wrong with that, had the film been executed with any verve.

A description of it would sound like a cliche from beginning to end. But Rocky isn't about a story, it's about a hero. And it's inhabited with supreme confidence by a star.

I wanted to like it more than I did, but it'll do.

There are occasional flashes that the film may be patronizing the lower end of the blue-collar mentality, as much if not more than the characters who keep putting Rocky down on the screen. However, Avildsen is noted for creating such ambiguities.

The basic storyline has been done to death over the years; this is still one of the most effective and successful applications of the formula.

Sly's best pic winner sets underdog-hero standard.

A great example of underdog sports cinema.

This is really Sly's movie as he slugs his way through a heartfelt performance and delivers some cracking punches, both literally and emotionally.

Rocky retains its power to enthrall ... a quieter movie than some may remember.... It's worth seeing again, for what it was, before it was betrayed by it's less intelligent, testosterone-soaked progeny.

A dunce who can fight with a contagious likability: Now that's American.

Marty like romance tale with boxing gloves.

Better films have been made about the world of sports, but for many Rocky is the sports movie.

A paint-by-numbers inspirational sports film.

...there's simply no denying the film's overall effectiveness...

A "guy movie" mega-classic that's really gotten better with age.

An extremely old-fashioned, if also intermittently enjoyable, sports drama that mixes elements of Marty as well as numerous prize-fighting pictures like The Cahamp, Golden Boy, and Somebody Up There Like Me.

Rocky is an old-fashioned fairytale brilliantly revamped to chime in with the depressed mood of the '70s.

Easily the best underdog movie ever made!

Suffers from age somewhat, somewhat like Mr. Balboa himself theses days, but still wallops.

It's sometimes hard to remember what a great film the original Rocky is because its reputation has been hurt by too many unnecessary sequels.

Stallone thoroughly owns the movie with his groggy, downbeat delivery and sense of indomitability.