MovieChat Forums > Rocky V (1990) Discussion > LITTERED with plot holes

LITTERED with plot holes

posted 11 years ago by mdidesidero
15 replies | jump to latest

I dont understand why Stallone was so sloppy with this installment. He was probably so full of himself at that point he felt he could churn out anything and it would make money, which is/was dissapointing for such an iconic franchise.

Plot holes:
- Son ages about 5-6 yrs after returning from Russia (I understand he wanted to get his real son in there but come on, major continuity error).

- Power of attorney? It's just not feasible someone could syphen all the savings of a millionaire to buy all these priorities and then just not be able to flip any of them. "The market dried up". Umm, but the properties dont, they could still be sold for SOMETHING - at a loss, sure, but something....not NOTHING. WTF?

- Even with brain damage, a legend and reigning world champion of Rocky's stature could've easily turned to commercials or commentating or an autobiography to continue earning big money outside of the ring without having to worry about fighting again.

- Tommy Gunn goes from the street to world champion in less than a year? In real life he'd be lucky to have 3 fights in a calendar yr. This film said he was 22-0 after the Cain fight, meaning he had 22 fights in the same calender yr. This is the biggest hole in the film - the time period in which he goes from nobody to #1. This is not how boxing works.

-Rocky says to his son about last xmas: "Remember how much fun we had last year?" Umm last year Xmas day you were getting your brains smashed in in Moscow, Rocco while your son was sitting at home with his 2 nerdy friends and his robot.

I understand Stallone wanting to do the whole "full circle" angle here but the execution was just bad. Nodody wanted or cared to see Rocky train some total stranger. We want to see Rocky fight - he's a fighter, not a manager.

I will give Stallone the benefit of the doubt b/c he planned to have Rocky die at the end of this film, but MGM pulled the plug on that. I dont at all think this is how Stallone wanted this film to end up, so he gets a pass for me. Rocky 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, for me, were all very good. 1 whiff out of 6 is not bad at all.

[–] The_1 11 years ago

I know! You'd think they were making a movie or something...

[–] riverkwai-1 11 years ago

Really the only big problem I have with it is the money part. I agree its completely absurd that even if somehow the accountant managed to lose all of Rocky's money, he would not be able to rake in millions outside the ring in endorsements. They try to explain it away by Rocky saying he's "not a commercial kind of guy". Which is absurd because in Rocky III he put is face on anything anf everything. And given his hero status at the time, a years old assault conviction isnt going to stop endorsements. In the real world Michael Vick murdered dogs and he gets endorsements. I think the movie would have been a lot better if he hadn't made Rocky poor. As far as the other plotholes go I think its possible that the movie actually takes place over a period of two or more years. That would solve the "how much fun we had last year" hole and partially solve the aging of his son and Tommy's rise to the top.

[–] Doc110894 11 years ago

If the execution were better, this could have been quite good. It also had the problem of following Rocky IV. Which was so over the top. I love it, though.

Despite the flaws, Rocky V is still a decent movie.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Times_Up 10 years ago

Passage of time is not shown well in this film, but about 3 years or so go by.

We have to reserve the right to bomb the n iggers. David Lloyd George on disarmament.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Huskie_Jon 10 years ago

That's kind of how I view it, although it still does not plug all the holes. Rocky Jr. aged 4 years while Rocky was in Russia, but then he quit aging during the three years or so years that Rocky was training Tommy. It must have been a growth spurt.

_______________
A dope trailer is no place for a kitty.

[–] dpac1977 10 years ago

so it took about 3 years for Rocky's son to get his coat back from that bully?

[–] eab1988 10 years ago

Stallone wanted to take Rocky down like a lot of boxers have lost everything....but by 1990 it was easier for famous people to make money back . Rocky could have put out an autobiography...done commercials (like the beginning of Rocky III showed him doing), become a boxing commentator. Just no way someone like Rocky would be broke for good like that overnight.

[–] newyork-novotny 10 years ago

I agree. If he couldn't fight or do any endorsement deals he could at least write an autobiography or sell the movie rights to his life story. Also, what about merchandising? Don't tell me after his fight with Drago no kid in America wouldn't want a Rocky action figure.

[–] jsl_99 10 years ago

The biggest problem with Rocky V is the set up. In real life he could've easily rebounded financially without having to climb back into the ring. But it's not real life and Stallone wanted to find a way to get him back to the old neighborhood. I think the movie has a sloppy set up but I actually enjoy it once the Balboas are back in the old neighborhood.

As for the "Remember last year" comment during Christmas time I personally think at least a couple of years had passed since the Drago fight at that point. Otherwise Rocky's brain damage was so bad that he didn't even realize he was in a fight the previous Christmas.

[–] jefgg 9 years ago

Rocky's son was the victim of Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome (SORAS), the practice of accelerating the age of a television character (usually a child or teenager) in conflict with the timeline of a series and/or the real world progression of time. Characters unseen on screen for a time might reappear portrayed by an actor several years older than the original. Usually coinciding with a recast, rapid aging is typically done to open up the character to a wider range of storylines, and to attract younger viewers. The process originated in and is most commonly used in daytime soap operas, but is also often used in prime time shows. SORAS generally refers to cases in which a character's rapid aging happens off screen without any explanation, rather than to story lines in science fiction and fantasy in which a character ages rapidly due to technology, magic, or nonhuman biology. At least one whimsical effort has been made to describe the SORAS effect as time dilation due to "soap opera physics".

[–] ThresholdDweller 9 years ago

What jefgg said. All of it.

[–] gangsta_toes 8 years ago

No Rocky couldn't have gotten his fortune back by doing commercials or autobiographies. First of all look at the real world, didn't Tyson and Hollyfield lose their fortunes? Would anyone give a crap about anything those guys would endorse to the point they'd even get the opportunity? Tyson has only pretty recently started getting opportunities to star in films and stuff.

Secondly in the film Rockys financial advisor said he had some unresolved tax issues (a common theme that breaks wealthy people in the real world which they should have used here instead) so I'd imagine any few thousand Rocky made would have had to go to his tax bill.