There are a lot of poetic moments woven in from the early days of Sylvester Stallone. This film goes way back to his time as a struggling actor who became a rising celebrity and eventually a legend. I Play Rocky is a journey where audiences feel like they are a part of Sylvester’s world, following him on the streets where success didn’t come easily. His will to become an actor allowed him to slowly build a following. Directed by Peter Farrelly, this is I Play Rocky, a  true story that shows how making one of the best movie franchises in history was not an easy process. The challenging interactions with studios, producers, and directors all paint a portrait of the difficult obstacles Sylvester faced along the way. When audiences see young Sylvester skipping work to get acting gigs and then facing rejection, they will grow to understand the creative mind that was bound for a surreal destiny. Along the way, the film offers a bountiful ride through the streets of the east coast and along the roads of California.

Anthony Ippolito plays Sylvester Stallone/Rocky. He is trying to put a roof over his head. He works different jobs, goes on various auditions, and does not get the answer he wants. He meets a girl named Sasha, played by AnnaSophia Robb. She slowly gets Sylvester to put his mind to the task at hand.  Sylvester also receives some inspiration from his father Frank Stallone-Sr., played by Matt Dillon. Frank believes that his son should take whatever money comes his direction.

Ippolito plays the role of Sylvester well. His athleticism, persona, and hardships all combine in his pursuit of something bigger. I adore the movie because of the way it portrays his struggles.  Show business is not a walk in the park. It involves dealing with all types of people with complicated personalities. I Play Rocky is about conquering all of these clashing dynamics just for the main character to be in front of the camera.

Even the relationships Sylvester has with his peers are part of the boxing match required to win life. From his relationship with his love Sasha to complex issues with his father Frank, he battles through their tough love approaches towards him. The writing and characterizations display that being a star is what matters the most to him.

During segments of the film, the trials and errors he encounters are frustrating, yet inspiring. There is plenty of empathy and encouragement for Sylvester in the film. He builds a relationship with two producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff (P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell). They are sold on the script written by Sylvester, called Rocky. They get a limited budget for the movie and offer all kinds of royalties, but Sylvester is determined to be the star of the film. That is where the tremendous hurdles really come in.  The film goes down a rabbit hole showing Sylvester in a real bind—not paying the bills, feeling lost, being dishonest with Sasha. What matters most to him is starring in the movie. Spoiler alert: his dream does come true. 

The film looks closely at a historic era in the movie industry. It was a time when competition between studios and directors was tight and there was very little diversity. The concept of boxing was viewed in a particular way by studios in those days. Interestingly, they talked about how films should feature more character analysis. What I admire most about I Play Rocky is not only about the importance of the plot, but what other elements it takes to sell a movie. Risking rejection through pure determination is a high point in I Play Rocky. There are times when Sylvester almost beats himself to death and there are moments when lucrative royalties are turned down, but deep-down his dream is to be the knockout champion in the ring and in the movie. The film is a dazzling story about the rise of the movie star, Sylvester Stallone, the world knows. It is a championship film that was written with Oscar-worthy intentions. Three out of four stars for I Play Rocky.