MORE than 30 years after Sylvester Stallone first staggered into the ring as the eponymous fighter, the muscle-bound star dusts off his boxing gloves for another ten rounds of cliches and sweat-drenched training sequences.

Rocky Balboa is probably the most entertaining instalment of the series since the Oscar-winning original, but as sequels go, this serves no purpose whatsoever in terms of enriching the legend of the bruiser with the heart of gold.

Perhaps sensing the pointlessness of the whole enterprise (apart from topping up his bank balance), writer-director-producer-actor Stallone has one of the supporting characters advise his hero: "It don't matter how this looks to other people. If this is something you gotta do, then do it. Fighters fight."

It's been almost three decades since Rocky (Stallone) dealt a knockout blow to reigning champion Apollo Creed.

The glory days are far behind him and Rocky spends his time running a restaurant called Adrian's, named after his late wife, clinging onto memories of the past by recounting the anecdotes to his customers.

The business is struggling to make a profit - "Italian food made by Mexicans ain't that special," sums up pal Paulie (Young) - while Rocky fails to connect with his son (Ventimiglia).

When a television news station stages a virtual reality fight between Rocky and the current World Boxing Heavyweight Champion, Mason "The Line" Dixon (Tarver), and declares Balboa to be the likely victor, the Dixon camp reacts angrily by inviting Rocky to take part in a lucrative exhibition match.

Despite the reservations of Paulie and Rocky Jr., Rocky accepts, spurred on by the tenderness of Marie (Hughes), the first woman to stir his wounded heart since Adrian (Shire).

Bill Conti's distinctive musical score pipes up as Rocky gets into shape for a bout which could immortalise him in the record books... or send him to an early grave.

Some of the boxing pundits predict a riot. "Why did they call this an exhibition?" asks one. "So they wouldn't have to call it an execution," replies his colleague dryly.

Rocky Balboa is a greatest hits tribute to the boxing underdog, splicing together flashbacks from the previous movies to remind us of the hero's triumphs throughout the years.

It's a 102-minute nostalgia trip, which conceals the flimsy narrative behind some well-choreographed boxing sequences and occasionally snappy dialogue, like when the big man rages, "You're my son, you're my life, but until you start believing in yourself, you ain't gonna have a life!"

Stallone still looks good for his age (60) and he gifts himself all of the best lines but at times, he looks almost as out of breath and lifeless as his film.

When the bell sounds and Paulie growls, "This is the last round of your life Rocco," we hope that Balboa takes note.

DAMON SMITH