If you are a fan of Sylvester Stallone, you most certainly have seen Rocky. Marking the 50th anniversary this December, Stallone wrote and starred as Philadelphia native Robert “Rocky” Balboa, a poor club fighter trying to make ends meet each day, given a once in a lifetime opportunity to fight the current World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed, played by the late Carl Weathers. The central themes follow the age-old ‘never-give-up-on-your-dreams’ cliche, but done in a way that’s engaging and resonates with audiences to this day. Director Peter Farrelly makes use of this cliche here as well, with his latest feature I Play Rocky, the true story of Stallone trying to sell his script and making the hit film Rocky.
Taking place during the 1970s, young Sylvester Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) dreams of making it big as an actor. The only problem is that it seems no one told him it was going to be difficult. It isn’t until he witnesses the Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner match that a spark ignites inside of him, leading him to write a boxing drama titled Rocky, with hopes to star. Eager to get Rocky made, he shops the script around. While studios love it, they feel hesitant having Sylvester, an unknown person, starring as the lead. Faced with new obstacles in his way, the eager Sylvester must prove to the studios and himself that not only is he the right fit, but that he will do anything to get Rocky off the ground.
I Play Rocky checks off the standard biopic clichés audiences have seen hundreds of times. Clichés abound: our protagonist goes through hard times, a romantic lead starts off not liking him but eventually falls for him, and the film tells viewers to never give up in pursuit of their dreams. Director Peter Farrelly isn’t new to the inspirational biopic genre. He clearly knows the tropes having previously directed the Oscar-winning Green Book, and he seems to have convinced himself that he can sail onto another win for award season working with the same old formulaic storytelling of the average biopic.
And even with a clear blueprint, Farrelly had more than enough chances to showcase the weight of what Rocky meant for Stallone. As shown by the committed performance of the talented Anthony Ippolito, Rocky was Stallone’s child. He turned an idea into a box office smash against studio odds. He was passionate about his film and not only channeled his real life experiences into the script, but wanted to let those experiences inspire audiences to keep going just as he did. Ippolito delivered a performance that captured the miraculous results that can come from sticking it out and persisting against the odds. Outside of Ippolito’s passionate performance, the film does not mine the significance of Rocky to Stallone’s career and artistry nearly enough.
Following his performance as Al Pacino in The Godfather biopic The Offer, Ippolito does a terrific job as Stallone. He transforms himself in the role and not only does he look like him, but he also shows care and compassion in his performance. Ippolito was able to deliver the emotional core of Stallone’s mission, and that determination to get his art made is the highlight of the film. His performance of Stallone’s pure passion for his creation never feels hamfisted or insincere. Ippolito and AnnaSophia Robb also have very good chemistry as Stallone and his future partner Sasha. Is their relationship written as the standard film romance cliché? Yes. However, the performances from the pair help make their love feel real and authentic on screen. The rest of the supporting cast all do a good job as well, and one standout is Stephan James as the late Carl Weathers. From his mannerisms to his voice, James is a delight to watch on the screen. He channeled in what made not only Carl Weathers a delight on screen but the high adrenaline of Apollo Creed. Despite his short role, he left a memorable performance.
While I Play Rocky delivers a safe by-the-books biopic with tropes seen millions of times, it still is one of the better biopics about a movie star released in recent memory thanks to the performance of Ippolito. It plays like a dad film, in that if you have a couple of hours to kill with your old man, they’ll enjoy the trip down memory lane and inspirational message. While the film doesn’t offer anything new to the genre, it makes up for that with its compelling leads and more fun recreations of iconic scenes from Rocky. If Green Book could somehow win Oscars, I’m certain I Play Rocky could too.
Watch the trailer right here.
All images via Amazon MGM Studios.
Directed by Peter Farrelly
Screenplay by Peter Gamble
Produced by Christian Baha, Toby Emmerich, Peter Farrelly
Starring Anthony Ippolito, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Matt Dillon, Jay Duplass, Stephan James
Premiere Date: September 12, 2026 (Toronto)
Running Time: 127 minutes
Other Writers Say…
Jack Cox
It’s a fairly standard biopic, and I was already familiar with much of what Stallone went through to get Rocky made. That said, it’s certainly a better film than Green Book. What really makes the film succeed is the incredible performance by Anthony Ippolito, who not only nails Stallone’s voice but also his physicality and mannerisms. It’s a remarkable performance, and frankly, it’s astonishing just how much he resembles the Sylvester Stallone of that era.
Leave a Reply