Rocky IV: Propaganda or Poetry? (leaning propaganda, tbh)

Alright, guys, let's talk Rocky IV. I know, I know, it's a crowd-pleaser, a dose of pure 80s cheese. But I finally rewatched it, and... wow. It's even more unsubtle than I remembered. The movie is basically a two-hour long, aggressively patriotic montage punctuated by Dolph Lundgren grunting and Rocky enduring increasingly improbable training regimens. Seriously, chopping wood in Siberia? Training in a barn while Russia has Drago hooked up to sports science? It's a bit on the nose, no? And the whole Apollo Creed situation? I always felt that was a way to raise the stakes but ultimately felt cheap. Creed going out like that after all the character development to that point felt like a plot device. Plus, the fight choreography in that opening bout with Drago is ridiculous. It's less boxing and more Creed standing around like a mannequin while Drago punches him until he dies. A little respect for the character we've come to known over all these movies! That all being said... I can't completely hate it. The music is incredible (the training montage... iconic, even if utterly absurd). Lundgren is menacing. And the final fight, corny as it is, still manages to get the blood pumping. Rocky's speech at the end where he wins over the Russian crowd? Utterly laughable... but still kinda impactful, I have to admit. Overall, it is a fun movie that has its place and time but I can see it as a product of its time. So, what's the verdict? A deeply flawed film, dripping with Cold War anxieties, but somehow... endearing? I think I'm landing on a reluctant fondness. It's like a guilty pleasure that shouts "USA!" at the top of its lungs. What do you guys think? Am I being too harsh, or were my expectations too high for what it always was?