I PLAY ROCKY: The Inspiring True Underdog Story Behind an Iconic Classic
The second-best thing to an underdog story is the making of an underdog story. I PLAY ROCKY is the feel-good and uplifting film about how one of the most cheer-worthy—and award-nominated—movies of all time actually made it to the big screen.
Movie Specs & Synopsis
Synopsis: A true account of an unknown actor who believed he wasn’t meant to just write Rocky, but to play Rocky Balboa. Facing constant rejection, Sylvester Stallone risks everything, refusing to give up the lead role against impossible odds.
Runtime: 2h 8m | Rating: Rated PG-13 for strong language, brief sexual material, and smoking.
Where to Watch: In theaters now
Nothing but a Dream and Determination
Mike Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) was a struggling New York actor with an unstoppable passion and drive. He was constantly counted out due to his looks and how he talked. With no roles coming his way and overdue bills, his wife Sasha (AnnaSophia Robb) encourages him to write his own movie that he can star in. Sasha also convinces him to drop the “Mike” and embrace his given name of Sylvester. Sly and the iconic Rocky franchise started like most: nothing but a dream and the determination not to give up on what you want. With no money and a baby on the way, the choices are not easy.
Watching Ippolito as Stallone is like being there in the early ’70s with Sly. Anthony isn’t imitating or impersonating Stallone. This is not a sketch or costume party. Everything about it is natural and authentic. I would assume it is the same feeling that people had watching Rocky the first time in theaters. Here is a guy who is not a huge name, yet he is endearing and immediately likable. You want him to win. In Rocky, it was the fight. In this film, it is the right to star in his own movie.
“In hindsight, it is easy for us to wonder why they felt that way. But you also have to understand that there was no guarantee this movie would work, and at times it almost didn’t.”
Fighting the Odds and Finding Support
Obviously, much of Stallone’s journey mirrors the Rocky story. He put a lot of himself on the script page, which is what made him the perfect actor to bring Rocky to life. But not everyone thought it was a good idea. While producers Bob (Toby Kebbell) and Irwin (P.J. Byrne) love the story and believe in Sly, the execs and those who control the money are not willing to take the risk.
Few may know of Stallone’s first wife, Sasha, but this film goes to great lengths to show how vital she was to Sly personally. She truly believed in him as a person, as well as a writer and an actor. Robb does a wonderful job in this role and is a perfect complement to Ippolito’s Sly.
Capturing Magic on a Shoestring Budget
The making of the movie is also an entertaining and at times humorous part of the story. From the initial negotiations to getting the right co-stars and finding a way to get the movie shot on a shoestring budget, the behind-the-scenes hustle is a major draw. As all the pieces fall into place, you see the excitement grow among everyone involved—including those who went in with little or no hope.
Rocky has become iconic, and so have the characters in it. You can’t have Rocky without Adrian, Mickey, and Apollo. It is easy to forget that they, too, were actors simply trying to capture some magic. Though they are not on screen much in this one, it is still special to see Kiki Seto bring a young Talia Shire to set. Fans of the original film will appreciate seeing the most iconic scenes as they unfolded—the workouts, the ice skating, and the run up the Philly steps are such a part of movie history, and having them in this film is a must.
I PLAY ROCKY is an inspiring look at an even more inspiring character.
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