Even though it’s not Rocky, I Play Rocky still hits hard.
Set in the early 1970s, I Play Rocky tells the story of a young Sylvester Stallone (Anthony Ippolito), an unknown actor who believes he’s meant to make it big in Hollywood. When he can’t find a role the traditional way, he decides to write a script for himself where he can play the lead. When he produces the hottest script in town with Rocky, his demands to studio executives include one caveat: that he be the one to play Rocky Balboa. Holding the line against all odds, Stallone’s journey to the big screen will not only create the ultimate underdog movie, it also becomes the ultimate underdog story.
Directed by Peter Farrelly, I Play Rocky is surprisingly more than a trip into the world of nostalgia. It’s a sharp, witty and crowd-pleasing tale that captures the energy of its original predecessor. It’s always difficult to make a film that examines a project that lives so firmly within the zeitgeist of popular culture. Some films like Ed Wood and The Disaster Artist are generally well-received while others such as Hitchcock and Bohemian Rhapsody don’t seem to capture the magic of their original content.
Yet, with I Play Rocky, Farrelly unlocks something special. Focusing entirely on the development of one of the most beloved films in cinema history, Farrelly manages to tap into the spirit of the original while still feeling like its own story. It’s funny, feisty and entirely heartfelt.
And lighting the way is Ippolito. As the young, struggling Stallone, Ippolito is utterly remarkable and offers one of the best performances of the year. Resisting the temptation to exaggerate his behaviour, Ippolito’s portrayal never feels like an impersonation. Every well-known twitch, growl and quirk of the veteran actor is brought to life with earnestness, but never goes over the top.
Even in moments when he’s allowed to step into some of Rocky’s most iconic moments, one can almost forget that they’re watching someone other than Stallone onscreen. (It’s worth noting that the choice to cast an unknown actor in the role was deliberate as well.) There’s an authenticity about his performance that never feels like a copy. Just as Duplass’ Alvidson demands of his star, there’s something ‘a little more’ in Ippolito’s work that elevates the film to almost unexpected places.
He doesn’t act like Stallone. He is Stallone.
It’s also notable how much Farrelly captures the spirit of Rocky in a movie about it. On the back of Ippolito’s standout performance, Farrelly manages to make Stallone’s journey towards cinema history feel almost as powerful as the original. Just as the fictional Rocky fought for his place in history, Stallone battled with studio executives to make the movie he felt needed to be made. Both had complicated relationships with their parents and supportive spouses who wanted to see their dream realized.
And, of course, both were underdogs.
And Farrelly imbues the film with that same spirit of triumph. Every board meeting between studio and writer seems to carry similar energy as Rocky punching above his weight within the ring. Every contract negotiation is a pushback against a man who shouldn’t be able to write the terms yet he refuses to back down. As such, just like his fictional counterpart, Ippolito’s Stallone is forced to trust himself until others are willing to give him a chance. And one can’t help but get swept up within it.
Admittedly, Farrelly isn’t known for his subtly. So, while the film is an absolute crowd-pleaser, it could also be argued that he pulls back in some of the film’s heavier moments. What’s more, it could be suggested that – maybe – the film relies a little too much on recreating classic scenes from Rocky that are designed to get the crowd excited. (Though, to be fair, Ippolito is so good that aspect is less notable than in other films of Farrelly’s career.)
Nevertheless, there’s no denying that I Play Rocky delivers when it’s given the chance. This is undoubtedly one of the year’s most crowd-pleasing films, recreating a pop culture moment that still feels relevant today. Backed by Ippolito’s knockout performance, Farrelly brings back the charm of Rocky from an entirely different perspective.
In short, it’s a winner.
I Play Rocky is available in select theatres on Friday, October 13th, 2026 and goes wide on October 20th, 2026.
