Creed (2015)

When the first Rocky movie came out it was a huge sensation. I was at the time in my life between living in Europe and returning to live in Canada so I never really saw the film until the Age of Video. It was one of the films that I always regretted not seeing in the 70s. In fact, I rented the film AND a VCR just to get to see the first Rocky before Rocky II was released in theatres. I loved that film and each sequel that came afterwards.

Creed at first seemed like another cynical attempt by Hollywood and an aging Stallone to capitalize on his first great success. For that very reason I avoided this one in the theaters. But positive buzz and a nice screener made this one a must see.

 

Michael B Jordan plays the son of Apollo Creed, who was killed back in Rocky IV. His energy is what powers the film and his performance is award worthy, as is that of an old Sylvester Stallone. I would be very happy to see this and the first Rocky be his bookends on a great movie series. I so hopes he never makes another because this film really completes the cycle and can stand tall as the second best Rocky film out there. I know! Who ever thought I would find a film in this series that I liked more than Rocky III?

From a grubby Mexican fight bar we watch Adonis Creed. He is rudderless. He has no idea what he wants to be and feels the burden of his famous father. After leaving his job, Adonis seeks out an elderly Rocky Balboa to train him and improve is already considerable fighting skills. Rocky of course declines the offer until the script demands that he join the fight.



The film takes it's time telling the story of a boy growing into a man and becoming who he wants to be. In that way it could be boring and ordinary but Jordan's performance and the legacy that hangs over the film is something that provides magic rather than bring down the production. Even the romance feels organic and real.

I have to admit that while this film touched all the same Rocky touchstones, it did so in a fresh, modern way. It's was hard not to get caught up in the excitement about an hour in when the first fight takes place.

Of course it wouldn't be a Rocky movie without that brilliant fight choreography. I enjoyed the way the movie used real fight professionals in key parts to lend more authenticity to the proceedings. Just one of the dozens of things that work right in this film. Worth your time.

The surest sign that Coogler has honored his source material is that Creed is populist through and through. His achievement... is that he gives his audience exactly what they want and makes it feel like a gift rather than a bribe.