Quick summary
- WBUR published a review on 12 November 2026 of Peter Farrelly’s film “I Play Rocky”, which dramatises how Sylvester Stallone got the first “Rocky” made.
- The reviewer calls the film “phony” and says much of it is made up.
- The film runs 128 minutes and stars Anthony Ippolito as Stallone.
- According to the review, the filmmakers say Stallone had no creative involvement.
A new review is the latest sign that the story behind “Rocky” is still being fought over. WBUR’s film critic described Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky” on 12 November as a “phony” and “mostly made-up” account of how Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in the underdog drama that became a classic. The film arrives as the original picture marks its 50th anniversary.
What the review says about the film
The critic’s central complaint is the gimmick. “I Play Rocky” tells the story of making “Rocky” in the style of a “Rocky” movie, and the review says it is not in the style of the good ones. It compares the result to Paramount Plus’s 2022 miniseries “The Offer”, which covered the making of “The Godfather” for that film’s 50th anniversary.
The review also places the film in a run of Stallone-centred projects, including the 2023 Netflix documentary “Sly” and his autobiography “The Steps”. The reviewer calls the book revisionist and says it is odd that other filmmakers would want to build the myth for him as well.
The legend at the centre
The review sums up the familiar story. A struggling actor, typecast as hoodlums, writes a part for himself as a bighearted underdog boxer. He is so broke, the story goes, that he cannot feed his dog, yet he turns down large offers from studio executives who loved the script but wanted a bankable star such as Charles Bronson or Burt Reynolds as Rocky Balboa.
Producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff then mortgage their houses so the film can be made cheaply with Stallone in the lead. The critic calls it an inspiring anecdote but not enough to carry 128 minutes. In his view, much of the film is Anthony Ippolito repeating the title line while studio executives shout bigger and bigger sums at him.
The performances
Ippolito, who also played Al Pacino in “The Offer”, has drawn early praise at festivals for his impression of Stallone, according to the review. The critic is less convinced. He says the praise confuses imitation with performance, pointing to Rami Malek‘s Oscar win as another case, and argues the script by Peter Gamble gives Ippolito little to work with.
The Stallone on screen, the review says, is always right. His only arc is overcoming mild self-doubt and listening to his wife Sasha, played by AnnaSophia Robb. The critic adds that Ippolito ends up playing Rocky rather than Stallone, missing the real man’s hustle and his habit of using elaborate words in conversation. He notes the film shows Stallone working as an usher at a New York theatre but leaves out claims about ticket scalping and his firing.
Accuracy complaints
The review lists what it sees as factual liberties. Jay Duplass plays original director John G. Avildsen as an incompetent hack who stumbles into greatness. Tracy Letts plays a character named “Sandy Maddox”, which the critic says is a renamed version of United Artists head Arthur Krim, whom he calls one of the savviest executives in cinema history.
The critic also says Farrelly’s broad comedy style makes even true events feel fake. He notes that the filmmakers claim Stallone had no creative input, while arguing the film still flatters him throughout.
What happens next
The film is already part of an awards conversation, and Modus Carry has covered how the film faces an Oscar category fight. One review does not settle how audiences will respond, and this is a single critic’s opinion rather than a consensus. For more on the actor, see our Sylvester Stallone coverage and the latest in Movies, including Stallone’s reflections on his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Frequently asked questions
What is I Play Rocky about?
It is a film directed by Peter Farrelly about how Stallone wrote “Rocky” and fought to star in it, told in the style of a “Rocky” movie.
Who plays Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky?
Anthony Ippolito plays Stallone, according to WBUR’s review. AnnaSophia Robb plays his wife Sasha.
Was Stallone involved in making I Play Rocky?
The review says the filmmakers claim he had no creative involvement.
One Response