Riot’s Reviews: Creed III
The story of Rocky Balboa has been a staple in cinema since the moment it was introduced to audiences in 1976. The formula was simple enough; take an underdog with passion/drive, place him against insurmountable odds, sprinkle in an unforgettable soundtrack, and watch his indomitable will take him towards glory. Sylvester Stallone took the idea straight to the bank and kept that formula running (with slight tweaks, of course) for literally decades and audiences kept coming back. In 2015 we were brought into the next generation of Rocky and gifted the new face of the legacy, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan). After re-watching Creed and Creed II before heading out to the latest iteration, as far as I’m concerned, Sly couldn’t have picked a better successor. The first two installations were passionate, unique, and a continuation of the winning formula that mirrored the original storylines. But sequels have a tendency to start fizzling out (much like Rocky V and Rocky Balboa did) and due to some creative differences, Sly didn’t come back to write or star in this film. With Jordan taking over the reins literally and figuratively, would the third installment still be able to maintain the Eye of the Tiger?
In Creed III we find a young Adonis (Thaddeus J. Mixson) sneaking out of the house to meet up with his friend Damian (Spence Moore II) who is heading out for an exhibition boxing match. While visiting a liquor store after the bout, Adonis gets into a fight with a group of men and Damian is shown pulling a gun on Adonis’ attackers before the scene flashes forward to present day. Older Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) is taking on a familiar face to wrap up his professional career in boxing. The fight commentators, in their speculation about Creed’s age and physicality, begin to doubt the champ’s ability to finish off his career on a high note and openly question how difficult his path was to the top. But the doubts are quickly silenced as Adonis defeats his opponent handily, exemplifying how much he has grown as a fighter and champion. As he begins to further transition into his new life as a promoter/gym owner/father, Adonis is greeted by none other than Damian (Jonathan Majors), fresh out of prison and looking to get back into the ring to finish what he started as a boxing prodigy. While Damian’s no-holds-barred attitude and ferocity in the ring frightens those around him, Adonis struggles to come to terms with his past and the mistakes he made that fateful night at the liquor store. Old hurts and the drive to succeed have set the two men on a crash course to settle the score and prove which one of them really deserves to be the champ.
I’ll just say it outright, Creed III was one of the best films I’ve seen in a while. Yes, it was a little formulaic and predictable but in all of the best ways (a lot like how I felt about Top Gun: Maverick). I’ve seen/heard arguments saying that this movie spent too much time on the interpersonal dialogue. Though it’s a fair assessment at base value, I believe it’s a major mistake to think it serves as a weakness in any way. The history between Adonis and Damian needs time to flesh out and the performances of the two leads (Jordan and Majors) are too raw/real to be cut down. Majors, in particular, leaps into a role that he is absolutely perfect for. His brawler physique and boxing style reminded me a lot of Tyson, rounded out with a demeanor/attitude of a man hardened by years in prison. Jordan transitions flawlessly between each character/family member he interacts with. The acting chemistry between him and Tessa Thompson is a pleasure to watch and their relationship with their deaf daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent) provided heartwarming moments interjected throughout the darker overtones of the film. After reading that Sly stepped away from the film because of creative differences and the heavier subject matter, I can sort of understand the move. But the Rocky movies didn’t necessarily shy away from emotionally draining situations either. At the end of the day, it was obvious there wasn’t any room for Rocky in this story and while I wouldn’t necessarily say it is better off without him, it is obvious that Jordan’s vision for Adonis shined through.
The original Creed film set a new standard for camerawork during boxing scenes and Jordan was able to continue living up to that bar. The final fight scene was an absolute triumph in my opinion, my only complaint being that I actually wish it was longer (Jordan threw in a Dragonball Z reference though, so how upset can I be?). Having some old faces (Tony Bellew and Florian Muteneau) featured gave fans of the first two movies a great nod and I appreciated a shortened training montage this time around. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good montage, but I’m such a sucker for dynamic characters and their development. If I can have an extended storyline where I watch people grow/learn, I can forgive cutting the fat somewhere else. Boxing enthusiasts/absolutists are likely to have the same complaints as they would for any other boxing movie, but I found it refreshing to have choreographed fight scenes that actually incorporate some defensive techniques unlike most of the Rocky films. Boxing is often referred to as being more cerebral than physical and I think the Creed films have done a fantastic job mixing that aspect of the sport with the visceral/emotional drive to win. Creed III was one of the first films in a long time that used a two-hour runtime properly and even then, I still wanted more. The Rocky/Creed legacy endures and I hope to be around for more.
Riot’s Rating: 9.5/10: Don’t walk, run to see this film.
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