THAT’S NOT ROTTEN! ‘Rocky IV’ – The One Where Rocky Defeats Communism

GameStop, Inc.
rock-4-1

All oiled up like Reagan and Gorbachev in Reykjavík.

If we were to compile a list of things which we know for sure that Sylvester Stallone doesn’t fear, atop that list would be his inflated sense of self-importance and sequels. Combining the two is a natural fit for Stallone. He’s done it before and he’ll certainly do it again. Stallone’s ego drives him in ways that others cannot comprehend. It’s the cause of his greatest successes and his greatest failures. Whether writing, directing, or starring, Stallone carries such creative control over his franchises that it’s impossible to place authorship on others. While he didn’t direct each installment, Stallone wrote each of the sequels for the RamboExpendables, and Rocky films. Before Stallone would place John Rambo in Afghanistan to assist the mujahideen rebels in Rambo III, who unfortunately in real life would evolve into the Taliban, against the Soviets, Stallone would shepherd his most iconic role, Rocky Balboa, and have him single-handedly end the Cold War through boxing.

rock-4-3

I guess Apollo Creed was…expendable.

As pretty much all the Rocky sequels start, Rocky IV begins with a recap of the previous film’s ending. After defeating Clubber Lang and regaining his heavyweight belt, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is finally living the good life. He drives fancy sports cars and is able to by his brother-in-law, Paulie (Burt Young), a robot. In a subplot that undoubtedly served as the inspiration for Spike Jonze’s Her, Paulie falls in love with his robot companion. Rocky’s former nemesis and current best friend, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), has grown restless in retirement. Seeking another chance at his past glory, Creed agrees to fight Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a powerful boxer from the Soviet Union. During what was meant to be a friendly exhibition, Creed is killed by Drago. Standing in Creed’s corner, Balboa hesitated to throw the towel in the ring to stop the fight.

Balboa ignores the pleas of his loving wife, Adrian (Talia Shire), and son, Rocky agrees to fight Drago in Moscow, hoping to avenge his fallen friend. To prepare for the fight, Rocky secludes himself in Siberia and prepares to fight using the power of montage. Like longstanding international tensions between the two states, the fight between Balboa and Drago is a knockdown, drag-out fight that never seems to end. Until it does. Rocky wins. USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

As Stallone’s creative control and ego grew, so did the obstacles and abilities of Rocky Balboa. In the first film, Balboa, much like Stallone, was an underdog fighting for his chance at the title. The first sequel provided a rematch and a triumphant ending. In Rocky III, Balboa must fight Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. By Rocky IV, Balboa isn’t just battling Ivan Drago, who is said to have the most powerful punch in the known world, but battling the Cold War. He delivers a speech which touches the hearts and minds of the Soviet people, including Mikhail Gorbachev who rises to applaud. On June 12th 1987, when President Ronald Reagan famously said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” he was channeling the greatest of all Americans – Rocky Balboa.

rock-4-2

James Brown before all the unpleasantness.

Part of the reason Rocky IV has stayed a fan favorite is the absolute seriousness that Stallone handles the material. What really stands out is how Stallone attempts to lampoon the showmanship between the Americans and the Soviets. When Creed fights Drago, Creed is dressed in a rhinestone encrusted Uncle Sam outfit, James Brown belting out Living in America (I prefer the Weird Al version, Living With A Hernia) as he enters the ring. When Balboa takes on Drago in Moscow, the Soviet propaganda show is presented through the same lens. Rocky Balboa is the only figure that is above these absurd theatrics. Yet Stallone has no problem making a third sequel where a meathead boxer defeats his opponent and Soviet-style communism all at once.

Russian filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein is known as the father of montage, as employed in his Soviet films like Strike. Of course, it takes All-American patriot and lowbrow auteur like Sylvester Stallone to take montage to its intellectual apex – to the music of Robert Tepper and John Cafferty. The two major montages in Rocky IV – driving to No Easy Way Out and training to Hearts on Fire – are the source of countless parodies, and are constructed in earnest that they take on a comedic value entirely unintended.

While Stallone has a sketchy relationship with quality, he has an uncanny knack to give the audience what they want. Financially speaking, Rocky IV was the most successful of the Rocky films. The film tapped into the zeitgeist of the Reagan era with its intense patriotism and hatred of the Soviets. It endures because it oozes the essence of the ‘80s. The glistening sweat dripping from the gladiators in the ring representing trickle-down economics.

rock-4-4

“Mikhail, you’re not actually buying this simplistic crap?”

Stallone finally brought the Rocky saga to an end in 2006 with Rocky Balboa. Two years later, he’d release his fourth Rambo film, simply titled Rambo, and a year after that started The Expendables series. To this day, Stallone still talks about a fifth Rambo film, and though Sly has stated that Expendables 3 would be the last in the series, which was quickly recanted as Expendables 4 was just announced on IMDB. As he molded Rocky to fit its era, Stallone will likely adjust his style to exploit the burgeoning international film market. A mashup of Rambo and Rocky, called Rambocky, was written by Royden S. Ziegler, but production seems to have stalled. A film like Grudge Match proves that no idea is off limits for Stallone. Sure, Stallone is a hack, but he’s our hack. On November 9th, 1989, when the first cracks appeared on the Berlin Wall, it’s important to remember that those first cracks came from fists of Rocky Balboa when he beat the living crap out of Ivan Drago. You did it, Sly.

 

 

//

Anytime Costumes

Leave a Reply

FanboyNation
Animation/Anime Interviews Animation/Anime News Animation/Anime Reviews Film/TV Interviews Film/TV News Film/TV Review
‘Wednesday’ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

‘Wednesday‘ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, from Warner...

Toy Lei Talks About Playing Auntie Victoria in ‘The Brothers Sun’ – Interview Rewind

Asian-American actress Toy Lei stars as Auntie Victoria in the new...

Marcus Massey Talks ‘Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2’ – Interview

Marcus Massey Shares his Wisdom as Owl in ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and...

Event News Event Reviews
‘MJ the Musical’ Chronicles the Life of the ‘King of Pop’ Running at Segerstrom – Review

‘MJ the Musical‘ is the Ultimate Stage Adaptation, Chronicling the life...

Aiden Sinclair and Michael Rangel Talks ’57 Ghosts’ Aboard the Queen Mary Séance

Aiden Sinclair and Apparitionist, Michael Rangel Discuss their new Theatrical Séance...

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open ‘Slashers Axe Throwing’ – Interview

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open Orange County’s first ever horror themed...

Automotives Football MMA, Kick Boxing & Boxing Professional Wrestling
Olympic Runner Colleen Quigley ‘On The Road to Paris’

Team USA Olympic Runner, Colleen Quigley is On The Road to...

Paralympian Swimmer Ahalya Lettenberger On The Road to Paris

Team USA Paralympian Swimmer, Ahalya Lettenberger is On The Road to...

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre – Interview

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre on Sunday,...

Adult Continuity Comics on the Can Cultural Junk Drawer Future Comic Rock Stars Is That Racist? Revisiting the Reviled THAT'S NOT ROTTEN! The B-Reel The Cantina Scene This Week in Crowdfunding What the HELL Did I just...?
Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse: Escalation

When you said "Destroy" Kurt grabbed his mini-gun an AK-47 and...

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse, the continuing saga!

If cautious means being careful when I break a foot off...

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse pt 253;sectionG

Well I think they're tacky as hell!

Music Interviews Music News Music Reviews
Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs & Sketches’ – Interview

Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs &...

Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her Career in the Arts

First Generation Assyrian-Chaldean, Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her...

Louden Swain Headlining Los Angeles Show at The Echo

Press Release – Louden Swain are headlining Los Angeles show at...

Enabled Gaming Gaming News Gaming Reviews
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gameplay Trailer

The first Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gameplay trailer was revealed during...

Wonder Woman Game
Wonder Woman Game Announced By DC and WB Games

Wonder Woman game will feature the iconic hero in a 3rd...

MultiVersus
MultiVersus brings Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny, and More

MultiVersus is bringing Shaggy, Harley Quinn, Jake, Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny,...

Comic Creator Interviews Comic/Graphic Novel News Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews Manga News Manga Reviews Novel/Novella Author Interviews Novel/Novella News Novel/Novella Reviews
Gary Morgenstein Talks ‘A Dugout to Peace’ the Final Installment of his Trilogy

Gary Morgenstein Talks About ‘A Dugout to Peace‘ the final installment...

Chris Clews Is ‘Raised on the 80s’ and Shares Those Life Lessons

Chris Clews was ‘Raised on the 80s‘ and Shares Those Life...

Roye Okupe Brings Authentic African Representation to HBO Max and Cartoon Network

Nigerian-American, Roye Okupe brings authentic African representation to HBO Max and...

Apparel/Personal Maintenance News Apparel/Personal Maintenance Reviews Entertainment Product News Entertainment Product Reviews Food/Beverage Reviews Hardware News Hardware Reviews Mystery Box News Mystery Box Reviews
Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand Demo

The new ‘Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand‘ is ready to ship...

Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the ‘Good Flour’

Canadian Super Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the...

Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

The Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide is now available to help...

Gaming Uncensored Toon-In-Talk
Episode 38: Hamid Rahmanian

Join Whitney Grace as she speaks with artist Hamid Rahmanian, who...

No Preview
Toon-In Talk Episode 37: Niki Smith

Whitney Grace interviews graphic novel writer and artist Niki Smith about...

Toon-In Talk Episode 36: Rob Paulsen

Rob Paulsen takes some time from his busy voice acting schedule...