Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!

Friday night, the screen packed to capacity with fans eager to see the final comeback of the greatest underdog in cinema history. Rocky Balboa, the inconceivable sixth outing for the boxing movie series, marks the final chapter in a story that began thirty years ago. And boy, is it a knockout piece of entertainment!

Stallone has written and directed an excellent send off for the lovable underdog. Strongly influenced by the first (and best) Rocky film, the structure and pace make for a very character driven movie. Long since retired, we find the former champ at a vulnerable time in his life. Struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife Adrian, trying to bridge the gap between himself and his estranged son, and not quite being able to let go of past glory. All this makes for a slow, thoughtful build up to the inevitable showdown; a process made all the better for Stallone's superb performance.

This wouldn't be a Rocky movie though, unless some quirk of fortune gave the guy one last shot at the big time. The premise is absurd: a computer fight simulation on a sports TV show pitches Rocky -The Italian Stallion- against current world champ (and generally cocky, arrogant little shit) Mason "The Line" Dixon. Rocky wins. So the fans and everybody else is wondering, what would happen for real? Thankfully the clunky plot device doesn't get in the way of enjoying the story.

Instead it opens the floodgates for a barrage of inspirational Balboa monologues. Keep pushing, strive to make the most of yourself, and when life hits you hard you get back up... and keep moving forward. That last one is a big theme throughout the movie. Whilst this could all come across as cheesy and a little hackneyed, from the mouth of Rocky it sounds genuine and sincere; the hard won philosophy of a simple guy.

It's a long time before the inevitable training montage kicks in, and not all the threads in the meantime work. Rocky's relationship with "Little Marie" and her son is engaging, but some of the scenes feel underdeveloped. Mason Dixon rarely feels more than two dimensional, but does have one good scene with his previous trainer. Conversely, watching Rocky struggle with the loss of his wife makes for some of the most touching, sad, yet beautiful moments in the whole movie.

An unexpectedly emotional journey, but don't worry as it ends with one hell of a fight! Capturing all the bombastic, overblown extravagance of modern boxing, it is a gruelling and often brutal showdown. Mixing what looks like high def digital camera with flashes of black and white, it's a visceral and visually satisfying finish.

As an end to the series you could wish for nothing finer. Cliched, cheesy, emotional, inspirational, and even uplifting. If you don't feel an overwhelming urge to rise from your cinema seat to chant "Rocky!" by time the credits roll, there's something wrong on the inside.