Every great underdog story starts with someone willing to take a chance. In 1976, that someone was a struggling, little-known actor named Sylvester Stallone, who wrote a screenplay studios desperately wanted — but he refused to sell it unless he could play the lead. Directed by Peter Farrelly and written by Peter Gamble, I Play Rocky tells that story, and the result is a warm-hearted biographical drama that earns its inspirational stripes.

Broadly based on real events and produced independently of Stallone, I Play Rocky follows his fight to play the lead. When we first meet him, he’s a bit-part actor stuck in forgettable roles. Fueled by frustration and stubborn self-belief, he pours everything into a script about a down-and-out fighter who gets one improbable shot at the title.

Hollywood bites, and the offers keep climbing, but every deal comes with the same catch. The studio wants a proven star, not the unknown writer. What follows is a tense tug-of-war that moves from cramped offices and tough negotiations to late-night talks at home, where Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) and Sasha (AnnaSophia Robb) weigh a life-changing check against a dream that may never come again.

Each new offer raises the pressure, testing his pride, his marriage, and his belief that no one else can play the part. Like many Hollywood biographical dramas, the film streamlines and dramatizes events, but its independent perspective gives the familiar underdog story a fresh angle.

The film belongs to Ippolito. He plays Stallone with far more than a familiar accent and a heavy-lidded stare. He captures the stubbornness, hurt, and humor beneath the public image, along with the desperation of a young writer weighing a hefty payday against the role he believes is his. Ippolito doesn’t just mimic Stallone. He makes you feel the weight of the choice. It’s an award-winning performance and a real breakthrough.

The supporting cast gives the story plenty of texture without pulling focus. Robb brings quiet strength to Sasha Czack, while P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell believably play producers trying to decide whether to trust an unproven actor. Matt Dillon and Stephan James also make the most of their brief appearances as Frank Stallone Sr. and Carl Weathers, respectively.

Having seen several of Peter Farrelly’s films, from Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary to Green Book, I was curious to see how he’d approach this story. He gives I Play Rocky a warm, grounded look, and cinematographer Sean Porter’s vivid, understated images bring the period setting to life without feeling overly polished.

I Play Rocky is an easy one to root for, and it goes the distance. See it in theaters when it opens nationwide on November 20.