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In 2015, CREED breathed new life into the ROCKY movie franchise and big screen legacy. The emotional journey was taken as we followed Rocky’s battle with cancer, and Apollo Creed’s son Adonis who created his own place in this world – and this was never going to be surpassed by a capitalization on the nostalgia in a Creed vs Drago fight. That’s not to say the new film is empty in its themes, but director Steven Cable Jr. takes a much quieter approach, taking a backseat to the flashy charisma that is Michael B. Jordan.
CREED II manages to entertain on that charisma, which is important, as the thematic ambiguity leaves the narrative structure slightly nonsensical. It never quite makes sense why Creed is so keen on fighting Drago’s son, and then further what lesson he learns that allows him to “fight for himself.” The film seems intent on repeating the ROCKY II structure “THE FORCE AWAKENS style” and is willing to force plot points regardless of why the characters would act so.
But Michael B. Jordan is a force to be reckoned with, and well done wide angle shots of him in physical therapy, training montages, or the boxing ring itself are worthwhile to watch without context. Cable doesn’t match the ferocity of Coogler’s CREED, but he does succeed in creating visual dramatic tension. Each punch, dodge, sprint, and blow is mesmerizing. At one point when Creed is asked what his name is it’s hard not to yell it from the theater seat. Sylvester Stallone gets much less to do, as Rocky’s absence is used to fuel Creed’s story arc. Rocky still grows as a cinematic character, but the torch has definitely been passed.
Despite the 117-minute run time, the film moves by quickly wasting no time with each story beat, steadily warming up to the final fight. And while Creed’s motivation for fighting may be obscure, the theme of accepting our struggles works well into relationships of Creed, Rocky, and even Victor Drago. The film does a great job of humanizing the two Dragos and their reason for fighting, and gives the audience enough to continue the tension as we now have reason to see either side winning.
The soundtrack is also as powerful as ever, with modern hip hop artists jumping on the staple horns, infused with 808s to provide a deep kick. Credit to Ludwig Göransson, of BLACK PANTHER fame. Overall the film’s best moments are visual masterpieces that are undercut by those same moments thematic ambiguity. But the in-between moments tell a compelling story, and Michael B. Jordan’s star persona carries the film well.
