The Unfairly Maligned Rocky 5: A Defense of the Underappreciated
When it comes to the iconic Rocky franchise, fans often divide into two camps: those who worship the series and those who haven’t seen it (yet!). Recently, KFC Radio’s host shared a pivotal moment from his life – introducing his kids to the Rocky saga, starting with Rocky 4. While this is an admirable move, I take issue with his plan to skip over Rocky 5 and head straight to Rocky Balboa.
Rocky 5: The Underrated Gem
Rocky 5 is often dismissed as the weakest link in the franchise, but I’m here to argue that it’s an unfairly maligned masterpiece. After witnessing his friend’s tragic demise in the ring and suffering a brutal beating himself, did we truly expect Rocky to bounce back into the ring without a care? The street fight scene alone is worth its weight in gold, and the film delves deeper into Rocky’s struggles as a parent and his post-boxing life.
A Few Quibbles
My only gripe with Rocky 5 is the lack of clarity on how Paulie managed to sign a power of attorney on Rocky’s behalf. It’s a plot thread that deserves more exploration. Additionally, the rapid aging of Rocky’s son between Rocky 4 and 5 raises some eyebrows.
A Lifelong Rocky Fan
As someone who was crowned the #1 Rocky trivia champion in Connecticut at the tender age of 12, I can confidently say that I know my Rocky. To this day, I recite iconic lines from the films that match the soundtrack while running. It’s time to give Rocky 5 the respect it deserves.
A Special Shoutout
Before we wrap up, I want to share a phenomenal deleted scene from Creed 2. It’s a stunning omission from the final cut and could have been the perfect swan song for Rocky’s character.
A Monumental Week
It’s been an eventful few days for the KFC Radio gang. KFC introduced his kids to Rocky, and Feits is set to appear on Aer Lingus in-flight screens. Harold Perrineau also joined the show, so be sure to tune in.
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