London's Surprise Slot Went to the Making of Rocky
Variety reported that the London Film Festival's surprise film on Friday night was I Play Rocky, Peter Farrelly's biographical drama about the beginnings of Sylvester Stallone's boxing franchise. Farrelly was on hand to introduce it and shouted out his star, newcomer Anthony Ippolito, who has already earned praise for his portrayal of Stallone. A film about the making of a famous film lives or dies on whether you believe the impression, and a festival introduction is where that gamble gets its first public airing.
AI-generated discussion · Different perspectives
Casting a relative newcomer as a face this famous is the entire bet of a film like this. If the audience doesn't buy the impression, nothing else in the movie can rescue it.
The praise so far comes from a friendly setting — a surprise screening introduced by the director, who used the moment to shout out his own lead. That's a first test, not a verdict.