Joey Magidson
There are few better underdog tales than Rocky, except, perhaps the story of how that film came to be. As such, you don’t actually have to know the movie Rocky to enjoy I Play Rocky. Now, appreciating Sylvester Stallone‘s star making vehicle helps, but this flick is so good, so entertaining, and such a crowd pleaser, it succeeds on its own terms. Playing at the Toronto International Film Festival, it’s one of my favorite films of the year, as well as the odds-on favorite to take the TIFF People’s Choice Award.
I Play Rocky will have you cheering for the underdog, even knowing how the story ends. The flick has an intrinsic knowledge of how to invest you in these characters and this story, and it’s incredibly effective at it. Funny, heartfelt, and an absolute joy to watch, I truly never wanted this film to end. 127 minutes flew by in an instant.
Struggling actor Sylvester Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) barely even qualifies as an unknown when we meet him. In his 20’s, going by Mike, and about to be forced on to the street, he’s reduced to acting in a softcore porn flick to put some money in his pocket. Even so, he still dreams of acting, and it’s that fire in his belly that will ultimately make his dreams come true. First, it’s what attracts Sasha Czack (AnnaSophia Robb) to him at the theater they both work at (he’s an usher). Lucking into a meeting with producers Robert Chartoff (Toby Kebbell) and Irwin Winkler (P.J. Byrne) for a job that’s already been filled, he slips one of the screenplays he’s written into their pile. Impressed, they urge him to keep writing. At a loss, Sly is inspired while watching Muhammad Ali fight an unknown in Chuck Wepner. Three days later, he’s written the first draft of Rocky. Chartoff and Winkler love it, want to make it, and even convince studio head Sandy Maddox (Tracy Letts). The one catch? They want a star for the lead. For Sly, though, it’s simple…he plays Rocky.
Eventually agreeing to a shoestring budget and catches upon catches, production on the movie begins, with director John Avildsen (Jay Duplass) seeing the script not as a boxing picture, but a character study. As the film shoots, it’s a struggle for all involved, from Stallone injuries to neither he nor Carl Weathers (Stephan James) knowing how to box. Through it all, he’s convinced that this will work, inspiring everyone else. We all know how it ends, but seeing that play out is positively inspiring.
Anthony Ippolito is an uncanny Sylvester Stallone, channeling Sly in a way that never feels like an impression. This is soulful and funny work, from beginning to end. Ippolito is going to be a star, sure, but he might also end up an Oscar nominee for this one, he’s that good. Jay Duplass and Tracy Letts steal their scenes in very amusing supporting roles, while P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell also have their share of good scenes. In addition to the aforementioned Stephan James and AnnaSophia Robb, both of whom are solid, the supporting players include Matt Dillon, Robert Morgan, Kiki Seto, and more. This is Ippolito’s show, however, and he’s fantastic.
Peter Farrelly is having a blast directing this film, seeing all the potential in the story, courtesy of the Peter Gamble screenplay. If there’s a tiny flaw here, it’s that Farrelly and Gamble spend a bit long on the negotiations to try and keep Stallone from starring in Rocky, but once we get to the film production, things absolutely soar. Farrelly has had Oscar and audience success before with Green Book, but I Play Rocky blows that movie out of the water. This is something you’ll be able to watch over and over again.
I Play Rocky is as good as a film of this ilk gets. It blew away audiences at TIFF, yours truly included, and could well be on its way to several Academy Award nominations. This is another example of why we go to the movies. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to stand up and cheer long before the credits roll, but once they do, you’ll be on your feet, without question.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
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