Sylvester Stallone hasn’t directed a picture since 1985’s “Rocky IV,” but this newest installment to the series doesn’t make him look very rusty.

At maybe-more-than-middle age, Rocky Balboa, again played by Sly (TV’s The Contender), lives in Philadelphia and manages a restaurant named after his late wife Adrian. Still unable to move on after losing his wife and mother to his only son, Rocky decides getting back into the ring may be a way to get some of his frustration out, much to the dismay of brother-in-law Pauly, played by Burt Young (Transamerica).

Eventually, after an ESPN Sportscenter-like show generates a computer match up between Rocky and the current 33-0 defending champion Mason Dixon, a real-life exhibition bout is created as a publicity stunt.

This is a simple heartwarming story about a guy learning to live on from his wife’s death. The movie’s element of boxing actually takes a back seat in this story.

There were a couple of references to the previous Rocky pictures, three of which (Rocky II, III and IV) were directed by Stallone, but for the most part, “Rocky Balboa,” written and directed by the former action-movie star, stands on its own. Stallone received Academy Award® nominations for acting and writing in the original “Rocky” in 1976.

There was actually one reference to “Rocky V,” notoriously the worst of the bunch which Stallone also wrote. It was the mention of ‘home team’ with Rocky’s son. It was a term of endearment the father-son duo came up with in the fifth installment. It was a brief moment in ‘Balboa,’ but even the slightest nod to No. 5 made me almost hurl. It didn’t hurt this movie any though.

“Rocky Balboa” calls back on many of the elements of what makes a Rocky movie great, particularly that moment in the climax where the title character is about to lose, but then he gets a flash of voices—including that of his late trainer Mickey—coupled with a large gong and intense music, which rings out with his new-found determination. Those moments in Rocky movies always gives me chills, as did this one. These are elements Rocky V DID NOT have.

The film was a little elementary in its story, and the sub-plot between Rocky and ‘Little Marie,’ played by Irish actor Geraldine Hughes, probably did not help or hinder, but overall, I smiled, I laughed and I got choked up at the end. That’s more than you could ask for of ANY franchise’s sixth installment.

This is a nice feel-good movie for 2006. I’m glad Stallone made it, and I’m glad I saw it.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?