Review by Rocky B.

I give Sylvester Stallone a huge amount of credit. After being a movie star for decades, he's as far away from the simple Rocky Balboa as I am. And, let's face it, Stallone hasn't written or directed a movie in a long time. Or acted, for that matter. But with "Rocky Balboa," Stallone gives us what we wanted from Rocky.

Stallone stays true to Rocky.

Stallone doesn't give his iconic character a girlfriend, a larger vocabulary, or a bloated ego. He's not a drunk either.

Stallone has given us an emotional Rocky still with a heart of gold and the simplicity we loved.

I don't know who worked with Stallone, but the screenplay -- okay, minus the two blowhard "Fight for your dream" speeches -- hits all the right notes. It gives us just enough flashbacks to warm our nostalgia, the familiar jostling with his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young), a lot of jokes about Rocky's age, the past-your-prime reminders, the same old haunts, a bit of the theme music without shoving it down our throats, and the final brutal regimen to get the loveable lug back in shape. But not too much shape.

Rocky is no chiseled Jack LaLanne (showing off his abs at 90 years old).

Stallone places the camera right on his lined face. There are no pretty, dreamy close-ups. This brutal acknowledgement of the character's life of punches works. Stallone doesn't stumble by going the elderly movie star route of reminding us "Hey, I'm still sexy," and "I've still got the goods." (Thankfully, a wise Stallone didn't re-visit that "Rocky at the doorway" shot). You find yourself thinking that Stallone looks big and puffy. He looks clumsy in that cheap burgundy sports jacket. He looks like a real former heavyweight.

Rocky is still in Philadelphia and owns a tiny Italian restaurant named Adrian's. He's actually too big for walking around the crowded tables. Rocky knows what his patrons come for and he gladly goes from table to table telling the stories of his past fights. It doesn't matter that he's got it all down to a stage monologue.

Instead of the tried-and-stale younger fighter from the projects that Rocky must teach a better way of life through a dedication to fighting, Rocky has a son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia) that he is quite proud of. The problem is Adrian died a few years ago and Rocky lost his anchor. He's lonely and he misses her. However, Rocky would never do anything to defile Adrian's sainted memory. He's not looking for a lady friend.

He is looking for a relationship with Robert, who, having grown up in the shadow of a hometown hero, is still embarrassed by his father's fame. Robert hasn't learned how to use his last name to promote himself (like today's young celebrities who carry a famous last name like a mantel of honor. (Kids now are affixing their mother's famous last name to their father's or just using their mother's former last name altogether. I'm talking about you Brandon Davis.)

Remember the teenager who cursed out Rocky thirty years ago after he walked her home? Rocky finds Little Marie (Geraldine Hughes) working at a neighborhood bar and living in a dump. She has a son, Steps (James Patrick Kelly III), and after a few more walks home, Rocky invites both of them to work at his restaurant. Their relationship is pure and noble.

The sports media has rediscovered Rocky (to the horror of Robert). In a stimulated computer match between Rocky (in his heyday) and the current, disgraced champion, Mason "The Line" Dixon (Antonio Tarver), the results give Rocky another lifejacket to fame. When the sports fans jump all over this pseudo-match, Dixon's management, led by L.C. (A.J. Benzer), decides to stage an actual exhibition. Since it is promoted as an "exhibition match for charity," Dixon promises to go easy on the old champ. Rocky decides he has something to live for. He starts training. He lets Dixon know he'll be fighting for real.

The music starts up. The training begins. Rocky starts shaping up.

The big fight takes place in Las Vegas and certainly delivers the goods. Surprisingly, Stallone has done a very nice job of directing. Sure, "Rocky Balboa" harks way back to the good old days of little man dreams coming true, but there is no denying that this is a crowd pleasing finale.

Will Stallone go quietly or will he ruin the whole sweet thing by making "Rocky Balboa 2?"