Peter Farrelly’s biographical drama “I Play Rocky,” which chronicles the making of Sylvester Stallone’s 1976 film “Rocky,” is screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Reviews describe it as a crowd-pleasing look at how Stallone, then relatively unknown, builds the case for “Rocky” and rises to stardom after the movie’s release.
Both outlets frame the film as focusing on the behind-the-scenes story of one of Hollywood’s best-known classics, emphasizing its inspirational appeal. Deadline highlights the film’s momentum and likens its satisfaction to the original “Rocky,” presenting it as an engaging account of the production and its impact. Variety similarly characterizes the movie as cleverly crafted, with attention to how well Anthony Ippolito performs Stallone.
The differing emphasis comes down to interpretation of performance and approach: Variety comments on the idea that a spot-on impersonation is not necessarily required for a biopic to work, even as it discusses the central channeling of Stallone. Deadline focuses more broadly on the film’s overall effectiveness and inspiration.
