Rocky II *** (1979, Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith) – Classic Movie Review 7828

The 1979 boxing movie sequel Rocky II provides another fistful of dollars for Sylvester Stallone as writer, director and star of this virtual reprise of the original 1976 Rocky.

In this one, the unemployed, inarticulate, muscle-bound boxing hunk Rocky Balboa (Stallone) gets married to his equally shy and inarticulate girlfriend Adrian (Talia Shire), discusses pregnancy endlessly and squares up to his formidable foe Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) for a rematch.

Sylvester Stallone and Burgess Meredith in Rocky II (1979).

Rocky II provides more of the same mixture of action, sentimentality and implausibility as the original Rocky, but it is a winning formula. Rocky II is entertaining throughout and the climactic fight is a knockout. Happily, Burt Young (as Stallone’s slobbish brother-in-law Paulie) and Burgess Meredith (as Rocky’s feisty trainer Mickey) also return for the second bout.

Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V, Rocky Balboa  (2006), Creed and Creed II followed.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7828

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