Barstool staff rave about I Play Rocky before Nov. 20

The office got cleared out, folding chairs went up and everybody was handed a red boxing glove full of popcorn. Brandon Walker could not wait for the lights to go down.

Brandon Walker

@BFW

Getting ready to watch the @iplayrockymovie at Barstool HQ. Ridiculously excited. The story of one of the greatest movies ever. @iplayrockymovie now playing in select theaters and playing nationwide Nov. 20 #IPlayRocky

Quick background if you have not been keeping up. I Play Rocky is not a Rocky sequel. It is the story of a broke, unknown Stallone writing the original Rocky and fighting to star in it. Peter Farrelly directs, Amazon MGM is putting it out, and Anthony Ippolito plays young Sly, with Matt Dillon as his dad and Stephan James as Carl Weathers. The timing is deliberate: the original Rocky turns 50 on November 21, the day after the wide release.

Eddie went straight to the gym floor with the glove still on to file his verdict, and it was a thumbs up.

Barstool Chicago

@barstoolchicago

The “I Play Rocky” reviews are in @EddieBarstool @iplayrockymovie – now playing in select theaters, everywhere November 20 #IPlayRocky

Brandon Walker calls himself Barstool's preeminent sports movie guy, so his opinion counts for more than most here. He came out of the Barstool Chicago screening sold, and he singled out Ippolito by name. That lines up with the best endorsement the movie has: Stallone himself, who had no creative role in it, said he "forgot I was me" watching it and that Ippolito did "a magnificent job."

Brandon Walker

@BFW

Just watched @iplayrockymovie at Barstool Chicago. Fantastic movie. An awesome telling of the story of Sylvester Stallone making the original movie. The lead actor Anthony Ippolito is great. As Barstool’s preeminent sports movie guy, I loved it. @iplayrockymovie is in select theaters now and release nationwide Nov 20. #iplayrocky

Dana Beers kept it to one word and three exclamation points: electric. Steven Cheah was even more over the moon, calling the screening "a dream" and promising a full review tomorrow, which is the one to watch for if you want more than a reaction tweet.

Steven Cheah

@StevenCheah

Watching the @iplayrockymovie premiere at the Barstool office. What a dream! Coming out nationwide November 20th. Full review coming tomorrow. #IPlayRocky

Yes, it is a promo, with hashtags and release dates in every tweet. Still, a room full of people who argue about everything walked out agreeing, and sports movies are the one subject this place takes seriously. I Play Rocky is in select theaters now and goes nationwide November 20, a day before the original turns 50.