I'm an easy mark for a good "Rocky" story. "I Play Rocky" could probably have coasted fifteen rounds on that goodwill, but what makes this film so satisfying is how much it offers beyond familiar names and a finish we already know. Anthony Ippolito makes Stallone's bet on himself feel like a real risk, with plenty to lose and nothing guaranteed.
The movement, the voice, the look: all are there, but this is no cheap impersonation. As Sylvester Stallone, Ippolito achieves a level of authenticity comparable to Jaafar Jackson's work in "Michael." Recognition gives way to belief. You stop admiring how much he resembles Stallone and start investing in the man he's playing.
Even more satisfying is the richness of the ensemble in a movie ostensibly about one man. Jay Duplass is particularly strong as director John G. Avildsen, drawing on his own experience behind the camera to convey the pressure of making someone else's unlikely dream work. AnnaSophia Robb has the well-worn task of playing the supportive woman behind the ambitious man, but her Sasha isn't simply there to reassure Stallone of his greatness. She challenges and pushes him, and her genuine chemistry with Ippolito gives their relationship some welcome dimension.
As producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell move from mild interest to full engagement, shedding their reluctance to fight the studio bosses and putting their own livelihoods on the line. They're convincing as business partners who know each other's styles and trust each other's instincts, and they provide some of the film's funniest moments. Tracy Letts is always funny as skeptical studio executive Sandy Maddox, stealing practically every scene he's in. Sharply realized and determined to keep Stallone from playing Rocky, he's an excellent foil for a man who won't take no for an answer.
The musical choices offer pleasures of their own. In addition to Dave Palmer's score, songs by Andrew Bird become key musical themes, giving the film a distinct emotional vocabulary. The Bill Conti callbacks arrive later, as "Rocky" is filmed and screened. Bird's songs aren't merely a pleasant accompaniment; their use is one of the film's most satisfying surprises.
For "Rocky" fans, the film offers another pleasure: spotting experiences that Stallone will turn into material for his screenplay. The raw eggs, the large pieces of meat, the public workouts in grey sweats: they are all rewards for the knowing eye, just like those Andrew Bird songs were a reward for my knowing ear.
When the familiar moments do arrive, they land. At my Middleburg screening, the audience seemed thoroughly engaged at the key turns, responding to a story whose destination was never in doubt.
Spoiler warning for "Rocky": it isn't about who wins the fight. It's about going the distance and not being a bum. "I Play Rocky" is a bit of both: Stallone going the distance in his fight with the studio and trying not to end up a literal bum. Some will call director Peter Farrelly's approach simple, and they won't be wrong. He isn't reinventing the biopic or uncovering some unknown side of Sylvester Stallone, and formal daring isn't on the menu. It doesn't need to be. The visuals stay out of the story's way, and the focus stays on the struggle to get "Rocky" made and the people whose competing ambitions make that struggle worth watching. The result gives "Rocky" fans the familiar emotional payoff without simply replaying the original fight.
You don't need to have seen "Rocky" to enjoy "I Play Rocky," though fans will find plenty to reward their affection. Newcomers will get a reason to watch "Rocky" afterward and spot the connections themselves. Either way, Ippolito's extraordinary lead performance and an ensemble that gives him more than backup make this an enormously entertaining, feel-good movie. It knows exactly what it wants to do: tell an improbable true story with the same underdog spirit as "Rocky." And it goes the distance.
At the Middleburg Film Festival, I interviewed P.J. Byrne and Jay Duplass and attended the Q&A following the screening of "I Play Rocky." For more on their experiences making the film, read our dedicated interview articles.
| Movie title | I Play Rocky |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 |
| MPAA Rating | PG-13 |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | Anthony Ippolito’s extraordinary transformation into Sylvester Stallone anchors "I Play Rocky," while a terrific ensemble makes the improbable story of getting “Rocky” made much more than a one-man show. Affectionate without requiring prior allegiance, this enormously enjoyable, feel-good film delivers its own underdog triumph—and goes the distance. |
