6 "Rocky's?" Hang it up

When "Rocky Balboa" first hit theaters, everyone expected disaster and couldn't believe when the film earned positive response both critically and publicly. So I have to ask … am I watching the same movie? "Rocky Balboa" is no where near as terrible as it should've been, but … meh.\nNow in his 60s, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is washed up, running a small restaurant in Philly and mourning the death of Adrian. (Come on Sly, why kill her off? Talia Shire could use a career boost too being stuck in those Geico cavemen commercials.) When ESPN does a feature on a simulated fight between Rocky in his prime and current champion Mason Dixon (actual boxer Antonia Tarver,) the event is turned into a Vegas pay-per-view event. In the meantime Rocky struggles to patch up his relationship with his son (Milo Ventimiglia) while forming a new bond with a younger woman (Geraldine Huges) and her son (James Francis Kelly III).\nThe film is a good examination of growing old, never giving up and morality in general, but everything is extremely melodramatic. Every shot is doused in heavy, dark blue lighting. Rocky doesn't just miss his wife, he constantly relives every moment they shared together (no wonder the guy's so depressed). All this weepiness drains the energy the film needs upon entering the final fight scene. However, the power of "Gonna Fly Now" should never be underestimated. That song can work wonders on any scene.\nOn the director's commentary, Sly sounds a little too much like his alter-ego, boring and talking slowly. However, unlike most DVDs, the deleted and alternate scenes are actually worth watching. Certain scenes would have better explained the relationship between Rocky and his brother-in-law Pauli, and made that of Rocky's new friends less awkward. A making-of feature may be for film buffs only, but it's cool to see how the various sound effects are created and how camera angles are determined. Another making-of details the process of creating the video game fight sequence. It's creepy how real the segment looks. The special features made me like the film a little more than I initially did. Here's hoping the next Indiana Jones has a bit more success … or falls apart yet again before it even starts shooting.