New Release: I Play Rocky
I'm a sucker for a Cinderella sports movie. Although, I suppose, I Play Rocky isn't a sports movie...
It's a modified version of the line from Tropic Thunder: it's a movie about making a sports movie, so it might be a sports movie
You're already lost and I'm not helping, so let's just say if you've seen Rocky, you'd love this movie. If you HAVEN'T seen Rocky...first, your parents failed you, and second, you'll want to see Rocky after seeing I Play Rocky.
Those familiar with the script-to-screen story behind Rocky already know the plot points: a struggling actor trying to make it in Hollywood writes a few scripts, gets one picked up, but refuses to sell it for the screen unless he gets to play the main character. I'm not going to spoil the details of this journey because I think it's worth seeing on the big screen.
What I Play Rocky does for this rags-to-riches story is deliver emotional impact by casting a fairly unknown actor, Anthony Ippolito, as Sylvester Stallone, who nails the role so well it's almost unnerving. But in a good way, I promise. If I had a vote, I'd nominate this kid for an Academy Award. Easiest vote. Watching him become Stallone is a treat for anyone who enjoys watching movies, especially well-done biopics. His mannerisms, voice, and physicality are all Stallone. It's like being transported back in time to the 70s and watching this story play out in real time.
The movie's main fault might be its pacing in the first half. A lot of the emotional beats lose their impact early on because you move so quickly through Stallone's early life. Still trying to avoid spoilers, but there's a scene where the actor has to sell a prized possession to afford food, and you don't get a chance to feel the weight of that decision before the film swiftly moves on to the next issue. The real meat of the movie is in the second half, where Rocky is being made. You get an up-close look at how well Ippolito plays Stallone because you're watching him act out the parts most people know intimately.
The casting for this movie is top tier casting. Each character, even aside from Ippolito, is a clone of Rocky's real-life cast. Stephan James captures Carl Weathers' swag and cockiness, Kiki Seto plays a charming Talia Shire, Robert Morgan nails Burgess Meredith, and Scot Teller pops in with a great Burt Young performance. The movie wouldn't be half as enjoyable without these actors. So if you're willing to forgive a couple of hiccups from this movie: predictability and early pacing, I truly think this would become one of your favorite Cinderella-sports movies. Up there with Miracle, in my humble opinion. 4/5
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