Rocky II

A decent enough sequel that struggles to match the original’s knockout impact.

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PRE-GAME 🥊

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Welcome back to Balls on Film! 👋🏻

I’d like to thank my cousin, John, for stopping by again this week for another takeover. If you missed his last appearance here at Balls on Film - John revisited one of his favourite movies, Rocky. Since we haven’t had a sequel week yet, I thought I’d invite him back to talk all things Rocky II. 

If you’re unfamiliar with his work, John writes comics and his work includes And Then Emily Was Gone, Oxymoron: The Loveliest Nightmare, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #6 and Glasgow-based crime thriller Sink, all to critical acclaim. His horror anthology series Hotell has been optioned for film, with an adaptation from writer/director Elle Callahan currently in development.

I’d also like to remind everyone that I’ve started the Balls on Film subscriber chat, which you can access from the main page or via the chat tab at the bottom of the screen in the Substack app. I’ll post a few threads in there every so often, and would love to hear about all the new things you guys are watching, if you’d like to dive in and share.

With that, I’ll hand over to John. I’ll be back for post-game!

John: Hello! Thanks to my cousin, James, for inviting me back again to cover Rocky II. Let’s get into it.

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FIRST HALF 🥊

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There's no denying that Rocky II is far inferior to the original Rocky, which is an undisputed classic and one of my all-time favourite films. Really, as much of a soft spot as I have for the series you could argue that we really didn't need a sequel. But as it stands, it's not entirely unwelcome to spend another couple of hours in the company of this cast of characters and watch their lives continue to unfold.

MGM

Rocky’s success as a film was almost as much of a Cinderella story as that of the protagonist, with jobbing actor Sylvester Stallone writing the script, and refusing to sell it unless he got to play the lead role, resulting in him having to make it for a much smaller budget - only for it to emerge as a surprise box office smash and Best Picture winner at the Oscars. Unfortunately, Rocky II feels like pretty much what it is: an attempt to recreate artificially what felt so organic first time round. And so we revisit the same locales and dubious plot mechanics get us to the point where Rocky is back to his old haunts and facing the same struggles, often recycling the same arguments, all to try to get him back to being the underdog bum. But I'd argue the higher production values actually work against the film, as it just makes everything feel slicker and stagier and so it loses that grounded quality. Sylvester Stallone isn't terrible as a director, but doesn't really have the advanced skill to elevate his material either. He stages the climactic fight well, if a little over-dramatically at points, and the story really comes alive and soars again there.

MGM

Ultimately, the film just about manages to coast by on the accumulated goodwill and inherent likeability of Rocky Balboa and his relationships with his supporting cast, with Burgess Meredith in particular a joy to watch in an expanded role as grizzled trainer Mickey. But even Rocky's "aw shucks" dumbo persona goes maybe a bit too cartoonish in places here, and the film's momentum dies a death during an extended hospital sequence in the film's mid-point. 

MGM

I'd say the strongest aspect of Rocky II, the one thing it actually manages better than the first film, is in the characterisation of Apollo Creed. Carl Weathers really crafts him as a compelling character here. His hubris and complacency from the first film has curdled into this seething resentment and insecurity, and even as he turns quite nasty and personal in taunting Rocky, it feels a bit transparently desperate. I also like the subtext, never really mentioned in the script but brought out in Weathers' performance, that Creed isn't proud of the lengths he's taking to goad Rocky. Look at him in the press conference while Balboa is being the ultimate nice guy and sportsman, talking about all the things he'd like to spend his prize money on and refusing to trash-talk Apollo: he looks thoroughly ashamed! 

MGM

Rocky II is decent enough and a fairly enjoyable watch, but the few Apollo Creed scenes we get made me think that this film would have been much better as more of a two-hander, letting us see a bit more of that stuff with Apollo as champion with the big house and the family and all the prestigious opponents lined up, but just unable to be content. What little we get of it is the best part of the film, after all. And maybe my favourite scene in the film is near the start, when Rocky goes to Apollo's room and, without any cameras on them, they share a moment of grudging respect.

Rocky II is available to rent or buy via most digital stores.

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HALFTIME 🥊

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Let’s take a break for halftime.

James: I’ve been watching quite a bit over the last week - a nice mix of trips to the movies, and returning tv favourites.

Hacks

I’m super late to the party with Hacks, but I finally started it recently, and have binged all three seasons in the space of a couple of weeks. I could kick myself for sleeping on it for so long. Jean Smart is absolutely sensational as Deborah Vance, and I love her relationship with Hannah Einbinder‘s Ava. The two have fantastic chemistry together, and the ups and downs of their relationship is endlessly entertaining to watch unfold. I’m glad that I’m now up to date and eagerly awaiting season four.

Streaming on Hulu (US) and Amazon Prime (UK).

Shrinking

One of my favourite Apple TV shows is back for season two. Three episodes in, and it’s still every bit as good. Shrinking is an emotional exploration of healing, human connection and finding joy after pain. It tells the story of Jimmy - a therapist struggling with personal loss, who begins breaking professional boundaries with his clients and engaging in unconventional therapy. It’s all brought to life by fantastic performances from a great cast including Jason Segal, Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford, who steals just about every scene he’s in. It’ll make you laugh, and bring you to tears several times over the course of a single episode.

Streaming now on Apple TV+

Smile 2

When I started seeing the trailers and promotion for this, I wasn’t sold on it all. As a big fan of the first movie, the vibe from the ads just didn’t grab me, and I wasn’t sold on the story focus being on a pop star. I couldn’t have been more off, because I loved absolutely everything about this. It’s every bit as good as the first one - maybe better. It’s absolutely unhinged, completely bonkers and twisted and the sense of dread and anxiety throughout is palpable. There’s some truly creepy imagery in this, and some really scary moments too. Naomi Scott is phenomenal as well.

In theatres now.

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Let’s get back into the ring.

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SECOND HALF 🥊

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Let’s jump into some awards and bonus content.

BEST SCENE 🏆

“Did you give me your best?”

BEST LINE 🏆

Rocky: “I just got one thing to say... to my wife at home: Yo, Adrian! I DID IT!”

MVP AWARD 🏆

As mentioned, Carl Weathers makes Apollo a really compelling character here, and this award goes to him.

IMDB TRIVIA HIGHLIGHT 🏆

After the bell rings, signaling the end of the second round, Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers are seen pushing, shoving, taunting, and ultimately being pulled apart by their respective cornermen. They continue to taunt each other before returning to their corners. Stallone revealed later they were actually angry with each other and were not acting at that point, several blows that were supposed to miss him landed and the carefully choreographed fight, which they spent months meticulously planning out, went off-track during that scene, but he liked the reaction the scene produced. He decided to leave their momentary breaking of character in and the viewing audience never realized the two actors were in reality quite livid with each other.

BEST LETTERBOXD REVIEW 🏆

Patrick Willems on Letterboxd

BONUS FEATURE 💿

Here’s Carl Weathers talking about making the movie and playing the character.

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POST-GAME 🥊

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James: Thanks to John for joining us again this week! I hope you all enjoyed his take on Rocky II. Let us know what you thought of the movie in the comments!

My New York Yankees are back in the World Series. It’s been a stressful road to get here, and some of the most thrilling baseball games I’ve ever watched. We’re down to Yankees vs. Dodgers for all the marbles, and game 1 takes place tonight. I don’t know how I’m going to manage to sleep until this thing has concluded, so I’m going to watch a few baseball movies between game days. Next week’s movie is going to be Little Big League, which is an under-appreciated gem. If you’ve not seen it, I’d love for you to check it out and join in the discussion next week.

See you then, and let’s go Yankees! 👋🏻

~James