For a docu-drama that is longer than the original Rocky film that this movie was based on the creator and his journey, the two hours and seven minutes flew by in I Play Rocky. I will admit I am a huge Sylvester Stallone fan, but there will be no bias here.
What I can say is that even non-fans or those who know if Sly, will be charmed by this underdog story of an underdog story that Peter Farrelly retold masterfully. This was on the level of the Anthony Bourdain docu-drama Tony earlier this year, but on the other side of the spectrum of hype and intrigue to make audiences find out more about the protagonist outside of the film.
Anthony Ippolito was not acting or playing Stallone. He was Stallone. I was lost between the actor and the real actor, not exclusively through looks. Through the voice and energy, Ippolito brought his A-game acting chops. If you closed your eyes, you might not be able to tell the difference. The physical portrayal was about as uncanny and perfect as Jaafar Jackson donning the King of Pop and his uncle Michael Jackson in the 2026 film Michael.
As someone who knew a lot about Stallone’s origin story with creating Rocky, I still found myself enthralled. I was definitely surprised to see what Stallone looked like going to auditions, but it was also cool to see a dramatization of how he and his wife met and toiled to make Rocky the best it could be. It showed all the details that were roadblocks that almost squashed one of the most iconic boxing films of all time.
“There has not been a biographical drama that has got me hyped the whole time more than I Play Rocky.”
The best part about I Play Rocky was how it was also about how a film is greenlit and shot, specifically on a budget and a tight schedule. Crazily enough, Rocky is an indie film even though it felt like a grandiose production, with an even more bombastic score by Bill Conti. Truth be told, years and plenty of personal funds were poured into making Rocky.
There has not been a biographical drama that has got me hyped the whole time more than I Play Rocky. Not only did Ippolito’s Stallone stand out, but the supporting cast helped sell the Hollywood era of the 1970s. P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell as Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff helped carry the comedy beats throughout I Play Rocky.
Arguably, Tracy Letts’ studio-executive role as Sandy Maddox was the third stooge from the production-heads’ side of characters. Even though Sandy was a fictional character representing the general 1970s Hollywood studio head archetype, Letts played it perfectly—dropping one-liners that provided bellyaching feedback to me and the audience. Jay Duplass’ director John Avildsen was another fun character, both advocating for and challenging Ippolito’s Sylvester to keep pushing and finding the perfect scenes and shots for Rocky.
AnnaSophia Robb’s Sasha and Matt Dillon’s Frank Stallone Sr. brought two influential figures in Stallone’s real-life to light. I Play Rocky showcased how much Stallone Sr. did not fully believe in his son’s acting gifts, versus Sasha’s ultimate belief in Stallone Jr.’s special filmmaking skills. The movie played them like the devil and angel on Sylvester’s shoulder, but it also showed how much Sylvester defended his dad’s out-of-date mentality—something many kids can relate to in their relationship with their parents because of the generational gap.
Texas-born but Ojai, California-based musician Dave Palmer accomplished the perfect homage score in I Play Rocky, creating his own riff on the original Rocky composition by Bill Conti. The score helped increase the intensity and deserved triumph through each of Sylvester’s wins in the process of getting Rocky made the way he wanted. To match the sounds and music of this nostalgia-bait film, cinematographer Sean Porter also matched the hype energy. Porter and Farrelly reunite from Green Book and The Greatest Beer Run Ever, showing how they can take significant biographical moments and match the right feeling in the visual storytelling.
By the time Sylvester Stallone and his ragtag group of filmmakers accomplish making Rocky, I had already gone through every emotion. And that is the secret formula to making a great underdog story. It may also be the manliest of men films of the whole festival! By some miracle, Farrelly was able to capture the lightning in a bottle. It was like Farrelly captured the same lightning in a bottle when Rocky initially released, which evidently riled audiences at TIFF 2026. Even though this was the first runner-up for the People’s Choice Award, it might have been a very close first-place contender—and rightfully so. Come into this with an open mind, and leave feeling awe-inspired!
