CREED review by Mark Walters – Rocky returns to train Apollo Creed’s son

CREED review by Mark Walters – Rocky returns to train Apollo Creed’s son

creed-header

About a decade ago, Sylvester Stallone returned to the role that made him a Hollywood icon, playing “Rocky” once more in ROCKY BALBOA. The sixth film in the boxer series was a big hit, and even paved the way for Sly to greenlight another Rambo movie. Now he’s back yet again as Rocky, but this time playing a supporting role to Michael B. Jordan, who is playing the son of Apollo Creed. In CREED, the offspring of the champ’s best friend needa trainer, and who better to fill those shoes?

I could describe the plot, but the studio synopsis sums it up nicely:

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo — the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title… but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring? The film also stars Tessa Thompson (SELMA) as Bianca, a local singer-songwriter who becomes involved with Adonis; Phylicia Rashad (Lifetime’s STEEL MAGNOLIAS) as Mary Anne Creed, Apollo’s widow; and English pro boxer and former three-time ABA Heavyweight Champion Anthony Bellew as boxing champ “Pretty” Ricky Conlan.

We’re seeing a lot of movies coming out of Hollywood now that utilize what I’ve dubbed “millennial filmmaking”, a sort of lazy (or perhaps “safe” is a better word) retread of familiar stories and themes – more of a remake with slight changes than an original concept. JURASSIC WORLD is a perfect example, just a thinly-veiled remake of the first movie with minor changes, but it gives fans what they want so the end result is serviceable. These days movie studios can’t afford to take a risk on an unproven or daring concept, so they frequently just go back to the well. In many ways CREED is just a re-telling of ROCKY only with a race-swap and significant fan service peppered in. And while some might say that’s lame, it actually works rather well as audience pleasing fare. Michael B. Jordan is great as Adonis, the temperamental lost soul who pursues boxing more as instinct than truly understanding why. They’ve set up the concept of his anger overriding rational thought very well, and it could easily be carried into sequels should this ignite a new franchise. Stallone is of course great as Rocky, sliding right back into the role like he never left it, and finding new ways to make the character even more human and easy to relate to. I’m also happy to see that this film acknowledges and deals with the fact that Rocky blames himself for Apollo dying in the ring all those years ago, and even though he finds the will to train the man’s son he has no interest in repeating his mistakes. Finally, Tessa Thompson makes for an unusual but solid love interest to our hero, flawed and fragile, she’s sort of the perfect companion for Adonis as he goes on his journey.

Director Ryan Coogler really works magic with Michael B. Jordan, their second pairing after the critically-acclaimed FRUITVALE STATION, and you could definitely consider this one of the most satisfying cinematic experiences of the year. At two hours and 12 minutes, CREED does drag a bit in certain scenes, but the final moments make it all worth it. It also boasts the very best and most engaging ‘in the ring” cinematography ever to be shown in a boxing film. Even if you’re not a big Rocky fan, chances are you’ll be cheering at the end. Should this become the first in a franchise, it’s off to a helluva good start.

CREED opens November 25, 2015

Be Sociable, Share!

About the Author

Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff.