[5]

If you can get past the fact that the Rocky series never should have lived to see a fifth entry, Rocky V may actually surprise you a little. I’m glad it doesn’t retread the old narrative of every installment that precedes it. It’s good to see Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and his family ‘on the rocks,’ adjusting to life back in working-class Philadelphia. I found the father/son, mentor/apprentice theme endearing at first, and Rocky’s strong desire for a relationship like the one he had with Mickey (Burgess Meredith, who appears in a flashback) is a compelling one. Unfortunately, the script ultimately takes its fresh perspective and new ideas and hammers them into a cloying, predictable ending. There was real potential to end the film in such a way that made a powerful statement. Rocky’s son in the movie is played by Stallone’s real-life son, the late Sage Stallone. Sage’s surprisingly naturalistic performance is one of the highlights of the movie. With Talia Shire and Burt Young.