Once he fought for a dream. Now he's fighting for love!

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Ton Burton, Joe Spinell, Leonard Gaines

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You're gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!" - Mickey

Why watch this? It really holds water against its predecessor; the ending is worth the wait.

Plot Summary: Following their epic fight, Rocky Balboa now has the respect of the boxing world. He navigates newfound fame and family life with Adrian, struggling with financial setbacks as he adjusts to a world outside the ring. Meanwhile, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, facing public scrutiny and his own bruised pride, decides he must challenge Rocky to a rematch. Despite initial reluctance and Adrian's disapproval due to the risks involved, Rocky eventually agrees to fight Apollo once more.

Dad's Preview: As with Rocky (1976), Stallone wrote the Rocky II script and this time took over as the film's director. He does a very nice job in that seat. The film follows an excellent plot where the climax, again, ends in the ring with a rematch against the powerful Apollo Creed. This final bout, though bloody and brutal, is one for the ages. Can the underdog hang in there against the champ... again? Is it even thinkable that he can win?

Chartoff-Winkler Productions; United Artists