Yo! Here's da champ

I watched in reverent appreciation, sat back through the end credits, reveling in contentment and sadness that this is the final film in the series. The movie stars Rocky, whom you'll remember from the movie "Rocky." Sure, his real name may be Sylvester Stallone, but he'll always be Rocky. It's the role that defined and typecast Stallone throughout his career. Some say this is due to his limited talents as an actor, but I think it's the opposite.

So thoroughly did he nail the character that it's impossible to see Stallone in any other role. "Driven" is Rocky in a race car. "Over the Top" is Rocky arm wrestling. "Cop Land" is Rocky with a badge. "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot" is Rocky in an awful comedy.

"Rocky Balboa" is Rocky as a man of 60. His prime has passed him by, and the tough-as-rusty-nails boxer is losing a grudge match with the one opponent he has no shot at beating — time. Rocky's ears are cauliflower, and his senses are failing. Even his skin, stretched straight with plastic surgery, is beginning to sag and wrinkle. As has his spirit.

His wife, Adrian, has passed away, and Rocky has taken it hard. He perfunctorily operates the restaurant that bears her name, visits her grave ad nauseam and can't even bring himself to eye other women. His son (Milo Ventimiglia), wilted and bitter from 27 years living in the shadow of a great man, is distant and stern, blowing off Rocky's attempts to connect.

Only Paulie (Burt Young) remains, the disheveled drunk who's always been Rocky's best pal, and who's been with him through all the battles, the times good and bad. Never one to hide his emotions or mince words, Paulie browbeats Rocky for his reluctance to move forward.

Rocky makes his paces through his old South Philly haunts, recalling his time with Adrian. He paces through the rubble of the old hockey rink where they had their first date. Seemingly gone is the man who used to run, fists pumping, up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

In a moment of desperation, Rocky looks for direction by entering the ring once again. He'll work his way back into shape and plug through some exhibitions, if only to feel alive again.

Opportunity busts down the door when ESPN plays a video simulation of Rocky taking on current unbeaten champ Mason "The Line" Dixon (Antonio Tarver), who hasn't been able to earn the popularity and respect Rocky enjoyed. His handlers propose setting up an exhibition bout that will serve both fighters and ignite public interest.

The climactic fight with Dixon is believable, with certain turns of events making it seem reasonable that Rocky could last in the ring with Tarver. Stallone resists the urge to demonize the opponent, instead presenting him as a well-rounded character with motivations of his own and every bit as much to lose as Rocky.

The ring battle is only the sideline for the real issues: How does a man find himself when his identity has been ripped away? How can a sports hero come to identify with the worldview of his child, who is dragged down by inherent feelings of inadequacy?

"Rocky Balboa" works so well because it pays tribute to its past while moving forward in a brave, meaningful way. Watching the film feels like catching up with an old friend. Or rather an old idol.

Stallone's screenplay is fluid, poignant and forward-driven, with ample moments of comic relief. Paulie delivers two jokes that are so funny, and so unapologetically racist, they're a refreshing shock in these hyper-politically correct times.

"Rocky Balboa" also serves as a requiem for the sport of boxing. What was once a grand gladiatorial spectacle that gave fans heroes to revere, villains to detest and storylines to mull over had devolved into a circus freak show no one cares about. Corporate greed, widespread corruption and the inevitable march of time had banished boxing into the cold.

"Rocky Balboa" is here to remind us of what boxing once was and could be again. The film is as reverent to the magic of its sport as "Field of Dreams" is to baseball.

Stallone's grand finale for the series is a glorious meditation on all that's come before and a shuddering send-off of one of moviedom's most memorable characters.

Yo, Adrian, he did it.

Rocky Balboa

****

Rated: PG for boxing violence and some language.

Writer/director: Sylvester Stallone.

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Milo Ventimiglia, Geraldine Hughes.

Family call: Great for family viewing.

Running time: 102 minutes.