Rocky Balboa possesses several strengths, though ultimately it’s hampered by some significant shortcomings. The storyline surrounding Rocky's determination to fight again is compelling. It’s genuinely sad to witness Rocky struggling with the loss of his wife and a fractured relationship with his son; he seems lost and needs a way to release his frustration and reconnect with earlier times in his life. This aspect was handled very well, but the online simulated fight that initiated the match felt absurd. The primary antagonist lacked depth and seemed like a stock character, which diminished the importance of the final bout. The concluding fight itself didn’t particularly impress me. It appeared they attempted to mimic an authentic boxing match in terms of visuals rather than creating a memorable cinematic experience. This resulted in a viewing experience that was hard to get into due to its uninspired presentation and poor editing choices. I believe introducing the character Marie was unnecessary. While it was pleasant to see Rocky interacting with someone from his past to help fill the absence left by Adrian, the writing made it feel like an artificial romantic subplot. This felt strange because Rocky’s true love was Adrian, and the connection between him and Marie was portrayed romantically, which pulled me out of the movie. It didn't help that she was a young person he had previously protected in the first film, giving it a disturbing quality. I think her screen time would have been better used to allow his son more opportunities for development and reconciliation. That would’ve been much more effective. In general, I believe this movie has one of the more solid narratives since Rocky II, but I can't shake the feeling that its potential wasn't realized. The film moved at a very slow pace, and certain choices made throughout really lessened my enjoyment. It remains an acceptable addition to the series, though it’s among my least favorite installments. Score: 56% | Verdict: Decent

Source on TMDB