I saw the new ‘I Play Rocky’ movie. Here’s why it’s worth watching. | Things To Do

For Rocky fans, this weekend is sure to be a knockout.

Friday marks the premiere of I Play Rocky, a film about Sylvester Stallone’s bloody, bone-breaking journey to make the 1976 classic.

I walked into an early screening on Monday night believing I knew everything about Stallone’s fight to make and star in the film.

I’d watched past Rocky documentaries and old interviews of Stallone describing his battles with producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff. I’d also finished my colleague Mike Sielski’s new book, Going the Distance: Stallone, Philly, and the Story of Rocky, before interviewing the cast of the biographical film.

But by the film’s second act, I was blown away by actor Anthony Ippolito’s portrayal of Stallone, the Sean Porter’s cinematography, and director Peter Farrelly’s handling of Peter Gamble’s script.

Ippolito captures Stallone’s fiery ambition and unyielding will, from the New York City streets to the red carpet. And the creative liberties Farrelly takes only add to the film’s comedic and heartfelt moments.

I Play Rocky is an absolute must-see, but it’s not the only film or major attraction to work into in your weekend plans. Here’s what else is happening around the region:

— Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

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Gaining 40 pounds, reading Stallone’s personal letters, and revisiting the places where Rocky began were all part of bringing the underdog story back to the big screen.

I spoke with stars Anthony Ippolito and AnnaSophia Robb, along with director Peter Farrelly, about the work that went into recreating the 1976 classic and why Rocky couldn’t have happened anywhere but Philadelphia.

Read my interview with the I Play Rocky cast here.

🎨 A celebration of contemporary craft: The Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show celebrates its 50th year at the Pennsylvania Convention Center this weekend. Nearly 200 artists will showcase their work, with scarf-tying demonstrations, a fashion event, and discussions with artists also on the schedule. The show runs Friday through Sunday.

🍎 Have a taste of a seasonal favorite: The Apple Festival is returning to Peddler’s Village this weekend. The annual festival will feature apple-inspired treats, live music, face painting, slime-making, and other family-friendly activities.

🦪 Grab a shuck for Oyster Fest: Seafood lovers, stop by Reading Terminal Market with an empty stomach and possibly a handy shucker. The 13th annual Oyster Fest offers East Coast oysters, craft beers, wine, nonalcoholic beverages, and additional seafood bites.

🇺🇸 Honoring military veterans: Head to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the eterans Day Parade and Festival on Sunday. The annual celebration honors military veterans and includes local food vendors and performances by Sanovia and Ami Yares.

📿 A seasonal market for homemade goods: Roll up to Elfreth’s Alley on Saturday for the Fall Makers Market. The one-day event will have displays from artisans and craft makers from across the city.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Spooky Creature Feature, Foam Plate Block Printing, Autumn Walk in the Park. Here’s our full list for the week.

The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival returns on Thursday. This year’s lineup includes more than 70 films, as well as filmmaker discussions, art exhibitions, and other cultural programming through Nov. 15.

The 10-day celebration kicks off with a screening of Kiyoshi, a 69-minute documentary exploring the life and work of Philadelphia-based civil rights and HIV/AIDS activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya.

Other films premiering at the festival include features such as Levitating by director Wregas Bhanuteja, as well as shorts such as Kristal Sotomayor’s Las Cosas Que Brillan and Angeline Marie Michael Meitzler’s The Bird, the Girl and the Typhoon.

Click here to see the full lineup and grab your tickets.

🍽️ A taste of Philly’s best restaurants: What happens when some of Philly’s best chefs team up to create something new? Find out at The Inquirer Food Festival on Nov. 14 at the Fillmore. Twelve restaurants are collaborating on dishes like spicy fried chicken with pumpkin curry over fries, a lamb belly banh mi, and smoked trout dip with crispy injera. Tickets are selling fast, so don’t wait to grab yours.

🏀 A regional competition: Six NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball programs will go head-to-head at the Toyota Big 5 Classic. The competition, which includes Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, and Villanova, comes to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Dec. 5.

🎭 Little theatergoers lead West Philly production: Anansi the Spider, the classic Ashanti folktale, comes to life at West Philly’s Curio Theatre Company starting Friday. Young theatergoers will take part in the story by creating props, sound effects, and even weather patterns for a hands-on rendition of the Ghanaian tale. The show runs through Nov. 22.

🐾 Venture to the world of PAW Patrol: Head to Please Touch Museum for “PAW Patrol: Adventure Play.” Young visitors will join Chase, Marshall, Skye, Rubble, Rocky, and the rest of the crew for hands-on rescue missions and problem-solving activities through Jan. 3, 2027.

🧑🏼‍🩰 A jazzy start to the season: The BalletX Fall Series kicks off at Suzanne Roberts Theatre with three works, including the world premiere of Loughlan Prior’s Speakeasy.

Here’s pop music critic Dan Deluca’s top concerts this week.

🎸 Thursday: Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village will headline at Brooklyn Bowl with legendary producer Pete Rock on Thursday.

🔊 Friday: Drive up to Atlantic City to see Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, the man responsible for some of the biggest R&B hits of the late 1980s and 90s. He takes the stage at the Tropicana Showroom on Friday.

🎵 Saturday and Sunday: Olivia Rodrigo returns to Philadelphia for “The Unraveled Tour.” The former Disney star will drop into Xfinity Mobile Arena for back-to-back nights.

🎤 Tuesday: Producer Daniel Lanois, known for his work with U2, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, and Peter Gabriel, is hitting the stage at Ardmore Music Hall in support of his latest album, Belladonna Nocturne.

Click here for the full list of concerts happening this weekend.

Since we’re in the Rocky spirit, how long did it take Sylvester Stallone to write the original script for the 1976 classic?

A) 3 days

B) 3 weeks

C) 3 months

D) 3 years

Here’s the answer to last week’s question: Which of these George A. Romero zombie flicks was set in Philadelphia? Answer: Dawn of the Dead

Last week, I asked you what the most ridiculous Halloween costume you’ve ever worn was.

One of our loyal readers wrote back with a story about a costume he ended up losing by the end of the night. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t find a photo, but the story more than makes up for it.

You might not think that being a Transformer for Halloween in the mid-1980s would be all that difficult. But then you have the body armor, the helmet, and the faceguard. It turned out that even at 8 years old, keeping that all together while visiting what seemed like miles and miles of houses was quite a challenge. In a five-block radius, I lost nearly every part of that costume. I was never allowed to be a Transformer again. But I did come home with a bag full of candy.

Now that Halloween is over, I have another question for next week’s newsletter: What’s the best movie in the Rocky franchise and why?

Email me your answer. I might share your response in a future newsletter.

Ding, ding, ding! That’s all for this week. I hope you have one hell of a weekend. And I hope I’m not the only one rewatching all six Rocky movies.

– Earl Hopkins

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