As I have seen the original Rocky over 10 times and can recite almost every line, like so many Rocky Horror revelers at a midnight airing at the Cineplex, there was smart money that I was going to enjoy Rocky Balboa.
The movie did not disappoint. I'd rank it as the second best of the six Rockys. What made it particularly enjoyable was the way it tied all the loose ends from the original Rocky of 30 years ago. We get to meet Spider Rico and Marie (the little brat who told Rocky to screw himself in the original) again. While both were not particularly likable in the original, they are redeemed in this one by Rocky. Paulie is still around. He remains a character you love one minute, and then detest later. Alas, poor Adrian has died from cancer. She still plays a prominent role. Our hero has risen from the depths of despair in the bleak Rocky V and is something of a worldly philosopher, who owns a somewhat successful Italian restaurant. His Legacy is intact.
An interesting twist (which actually occurred in 1970 between Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali) shows Rocky beating the current champ in a computer simulation. Well, Yada, Yada, Yada and Rocky is pitted against undisputed champ Mason Dixon (played competently by Antonio Tarver). One thing I always wondered was why every boxer Rocky ever fought had a cartooney name (except for Ivan Drago, I guess).
The training montage, culminating with "Gonna Fly Now," is always inspiring and never fails to bring a frog to my throat. The fight between Balboa and Dixon is not totally absurd and the result, while meaningless in terms of winning and losing, shows Rocky delivering his latest message, "You're never too old to have a dream."
Rocky Balboa brings a good closure to the genre. The fact that the movie was even produced was something of a Rocky story as numerous producers rejected the script.