Like the Rocky franchise that inspired it, "Ricky" is a movie with an abundance of heart. And while the diminutive Ricky McDown, hero of this parallel tale of the quest for love and self-realization, lacks the physical stature of Rocky Balboa, his biggest muscle – his heart – is always in the right place.
"Ricky" is a first of its kind: a romantic comedy that uses the cultural touchstone of Rocky to propel its storyline. Played by Matt Markey, who conceived, wrote and produced the film, the title character mimics and memorializes the pop icon pug throughout his fight to win the love of Tracy – a symbol of out-of-reach romantic fulfillment and social respectability.
As underdogs go, Ricky is among the most endearing – as sincere as he is vulnerable, with a sensitivity that he counterbalances with a boxing regimen meant to toughen him up for his uphill battle for romantic recognition. While his hero-worship of Rocky provides moral inspiration, his transformation from romantic palooka to contender for Tracy's heart is driven by the unwitting heroine Janie, a boxer whose own heart pounds out a sympathetic beat for Ricky. With Janie as a romantic foil, Ricky acquires the grace and grit to bounce back against Brad, his rival for Tracy's affection.
"Ricky" brings together an able cast whose performances seem to complement and enhance each other, giving the movie a cohesive and credible feel. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and true-to-life performances, "Ricky" packs an emotional punch.
