Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) trains Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) in “Creed”. Photo by Barry Wetcher.
Rocky Balboa is one of cinema’s greatest underdogs, overcoming insurmountable odds in and out of the boxing ring over the course of the Rocky franchise. With the first Rocky film being released in 1976 and the most recent Rocky Balboa coming out 30 years later, it appeared that Sylvester Stallone‘s character didn’t have much left to fight for. (He even defeated WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan and Mr. T in Rocky III.) But nine years after the release of the last Rocky film, and 40 years since the events of the original, Creed not only gives Rocky reason to fight once again, but it introduces a new cast of characters to keep the bout going into more rounds for a new generation.
Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is the troubled illegitimate son of Rocky’s greatest rival and friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Having been born after his father’s death, Adonis is Apollo’s dark secret until Apollo’s widow Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad) tracks him down and takes him into her lavish home following the death of his biological mother. Despite being afforded the educational and financial opportunities for a successful career behind a desk, Adonis secretly competes in amateur boxing rings, amassing an impressive undefeated streak in the process. With an aggressive nature and boxing in his blood, Adonis turns down a promotion at his high-rise office job and moves to Philadelphia to find Rocky.
“Creed,” much like its predecessors, features lots of inspirational training scenes. Photo by Barry Wetcher.
Adonis approaches Rocky at Adrian’s, the Italian restaurant he now owns. Initially reluctant to get back into boxing, Rocky eventually acquiesces when he finds out that Adonis is Apollo’s son, and sees his potential if he’s able to reign in his reckless nature and focus his angst. Naturally, a paternal bond develops as Apollo not only learns to be a better boxer, but also a better man, under Rocky’s tutelage.
As Adonis prepares for his biggest boxing challenge against British bad boy “Pretty” Ricky Conlan (Tony “Bomber” Bellew), he faces numerous personal setbacks with his girlfriend (Tessa Thompson), the ailing health of the elder Italian Stallion and his personal life becoming public banter. It wouldn’t be a Rocky movie without the titular character being forced to stand strong when faced with challenges on personal and professional fronts, nor would it make for an interesting story. Though much of the story mirrors the previous Rocky films, Creed‘s predictability doesn’t make the drama and action any less compelling.
Rocky and Adonis have a moment of reflection. Photo by Barry Wetcher.
In much the same way that Rocky is handing the gloves over to Adonis in the film, Stallone gives a young filmmaker the opportunity to prove his main event worth. Creed is the first film in the Rocky series not completely written by Stallone, with Aaron Covington and director Ryan Coogler handling a majority of those duties. Reuniting with his Fruitvale Station star Jordan, Coogler creates an emotionally-engaging film that holds its own against its predecessors. In a moviemaking world quick to cash in on remakes, it’s nice to see a franchise with characters that age and evolve to continue, rather than reboot, a story.