MovieChat Forums > Rocky II (1979) Discussion > Am I really suppose to root for Rocky?

Am I really suppose to root for Rocky?

posted 14 years ago by one-oh-sixer
33 replies | jump to latest

...I mean, the guy's a bit of a jerk. He takes the money that he makes and blows it on dumb stuff. A car, coats, watches; the only thing he takes to the bank is the belief that he's gonna be doing commmercials. And Adrian's no better; she's right there with him, condoning every ill-advised purchase. They've just been married and are starting a family, and he's JUST retired from the only legit job he's ever had, and THAT's what he's spendin his money on? And when it does come time to do the commerical: Rocky doesn't even bother to learn his lines!! He REALLY DOES waste everyones time. When the commerical director gets on him about it, we're suppose to back Rocky b/c the director is being rude? Everything the director says is true and then Rocky ACTS LIKE A BABY ABOUT IT. And you cant tell me that Rocky Jr's birth wasn't paid for by the taxpayer. Did Rocky have health insurance? No, he could've paid the medical bills if he wasn't busy being shallow and materialistic. Hard to like Rocky's character or to root for him in this sequel.

P.S., Adrian's supposed to be the 'smart one'? She did nothing to stop him from his reckless spending! Not too bright.

[–] kimisan 14 years ago

Rocky is just a simple guy. He probably never had a nice thing in his life, which is why he blows it all right away. I don't think he ever really understands the truth about money and good investments, and Adrian is too shy and passive to do anything about it. If you'll watch more closely, you'll see that Rocky is ALWAYS kind to everyone, even when they're belittling him (i.e. in Mickey's training center). And as for the "learning his lines" bit, I thought it would've been obvious that Rocky can't read well, which is why we see him trying to learn to read better throughout the rest of the film.

[–] ThresholdDweller 13 years ago

Something I heard Gene Siskel say about Rocky II years ago: "In Rocky II, the villain was really Rocky himself -- his overblown ego."

[–] Tresix 13 years ago

Rocky didn't get the overblown ego until the third movie. As to Rocky blowing his money, have you ever seen those stories of people who win the lottery and are nearly broke after receiving their first payment? Rocky is just like one of those types. I'm sure he'd probably invest if he won today.

Yippee: "For king!"
Yappee: "For country!"
Yahooie: "And, most of all, for 10¢ an hour!"

[–] Strazdamonas 9 years ago

yep, some people are just horrible with money and lack basic sense of economics. This is why there should be mandatory economic courses in schools. at least then we cant say they didnt knew better, they were just stupid.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] jsn_hylnd 8 years ago

Gene Siskel is an idiot. Doesn't know good movies. He hated Beetlejuice and home alone, therefore, an idiot. Love how people treat him and Ebert like they were legendary critics when in fact, they SUCKED. Nostalgia Critic all the way.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] kidicarus1983 13 years ago

We're supposed to root for him yes. He blows his money, he acts like an idiot on the commercial set and wastes everyone's time. Because he is dumb. He's dumb and he's been beaten even dumber.

[–] Tresix 13 years ago

It's not so much that Rocky is dumb on the set, but underestimates what goes into acting. You often hear about people from one profession like sports or even politics say they'll try acting with the condescending remark "How hard can it be?" only to find that there's more to it than just reading off of a cue card? I think there are more Brian Bosworths out there than Jim Browns in terms of an athlete crossing over into acting. Rocky figured acting would be a lot easier than getting punched in the face and learned that it wasn't.

Yippee: "For king!"
Yappee: "For country!"
Yahooie: "And, most of all, for 10¢ an hour!"

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] super-sapien 13 years ago

oh and by the way you idiots... rocky's not dumb, he's intelligent... you can tell by the way he treats people, and his personality... your just too dumb to see that... remember his advice to the little girl in the first movie? adumb guy wouldn't say that.

rocky, and sylvester stallone, are intelligent people

[–] Tresix 13 years ago

"…your just too dumb to see that…". Uh, that should be "…you're just too dumb to see that…". If you're gonna insult other people's intelligence, make sure yours is up to snuff first.

Yippee: "For king!"
Yappee: "For country!"
Yahooie: "And, most of all, for 10¢ an hour!"

[–] Rockhound6165 13 years ago

You guys are thinking in 2011 terms here. He has $37K from the fight. A Trans Am in 1976(you have to remember that this is the year the movie takes place, not 1978) cost about $4,500, although Rocky finances it, not pays for it outright(remember when asking Paulie if he wants the car he mentions picking up the payments). He might have put down $500 tops on it. A Rolex might have been a couple of hundred a piece. The jacket, maybe $50-$100 tops. So, we basically see Rocky spend maybe $2,000 on frivolous stuff. The only meaningful thing he buys is the house(with the interest rate being over 10% :eek:), and even that would require a 20% down payment which would be about $3,500 so the real question is, what happened to his money?

[–] Tresix 13 years ago

Remember, at least seven months have gone by since Rocky got his money and the time that Adrian goes into the coma giving premature birth to Junior. Still trying to keep up with house payments while no real money was coming in would eat away at the Balboas' savings.

Yippee: "For king!"
Yappee: "For country!"
Yahooie: "And, most of all, for 10¢ an hour!"

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Tresix 13 years ago

To whom is this hostile missive directed?

Yippee: "For king!"
Yappee: "For country!"
Yahooie: "And, most of all, for 10¢ an hour!"

[–] jeanniemotherof3 13 years ago

woops!! that was directed to one oh sixer!! just plain stupid.........

[–] atrillion 12 years ago

In the movie itself Rocky admits he has a relaxed brain. Which means the guy is a special needs type. All he wants is nice things like normal people. To keep up with the Jones'. To impress the woman he loves. I think that's pretty normal. If you don't think so then maybe you're a special needs type. But this man broke his butt to train to win that fight. Then he actually wins the fight? I just watched this movie man and I cried at the end when he tells the camera, "Yo Adrian, I did it!!!!!!!". Dude why am I even bothering talking to you? You posted that stupidity last year. I hope by now your brain has caught up with your mouth. Otherwise you and I could go 10 rounds. Don't talk about the Italian Stallion like that ever again. Loser.

[–] wwiisgttom 12 years ago

Part of the reason I didn't like this film is rocky seemed dumbed down. Sure he didn't seem like the sharpest guy out there in the first film either but they over did it in this one IMHO. Remember the quote from the first film "retards like the zoo", why did they have Rocky propose to Adrian at a zoo in this one?

[–] super-sapien 11 years ago

no. relaxed brain doesn't mean he's a special needs person.

rocky is very intelligent. extremely intelligent. because he's a good person. and that's what intelligence is.

dummies

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I AM
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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Citation_Needed 8 years ago

Looks like you got a relaxed brain. Go back to the zoo!

[–] Times_Up 11 years ago

I guess that's the point. He is an underdog to the audience as well.

As for Adrian, she is really passive. Look how Paulie treated her until she was 30 for crying out loud. Though Rocky was dumb during the commercial shoot the director was in the wrong in the end. He shouts to Leonard something like "I only work with professionals, I told you Leonard!" Well, if he did tell him, then why did he agree to work with him? He wasted his own time by his own logic, yets blames Rocky. Very childish of him. And you can't say he didn't know, b/c he met him at the hospital and quips "guy has brain damage.' He made an informed choice to work with a non-professional to try to cash in on Rocky's sudden celebrity, then bawls when things don't work out. I'm with Rocky in that scene.

Otherwise, though you are right, Rocky is a jerk in this movie. Reminds me of another sports movie, Above the Rim. Though Kyle is much younger, he too is a colossal jerk, yet we are supposed to root for him. Again, I think this is a part of the underdog motif. Mick or Shep in AtR, have to overcome their own feelings of distain for their behavior to see their potential and how they are the only one's who can help hone this tremendous talent they posses. Don't forget, the trainer will feel great for teaching them inspite of their BS b/c they will know they were right about their student's talent as well as their own. All great for the teacher's ego. I can't help but think of the Karate Kid's teacher who says something like "no such thing as bad student, only bad teacher." Don't forget Rocky gets his balls busted (and rightfully so) pretty good by Mick, Apollo, the director, employers he applies to and Paulie (to a lesser degree). And even Adrian in a different way.

[–] Splarne 10 years ago

he's just got a slow brain and all.

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[–] fourpointstars 10 years ago

I'm starting to root for Apollo more than Rocky when I watch this now.