It’s been nine years since a Rocky film hit theaters and, in Stallone’s eyes, it was clear the time was ripe to push the franchise forward but, in a brilliant move, in the direction of a spin-off. Wisely choosing young newcomer Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) to write and direct, the franchise turns towards Apollo Creed’s son in the aptly titled movie, Creed.
Creed follows Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the bastard child of Apollo Creed, focusing briefly on his troubled youth and fast forwarding to modern day when he decides he wants to become a boxer full-time. After moving to Philly, he spends his days training and attempting to convince Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to train him to become a contender. At the same time, Adonis meet an interesting and strong independent woman, named Bianca (Tessa Thompson), in his apartment building that he quickly falls for. The film chronicles Johnson’s training, struggles with Bianca, Balboa’s health issues, and, most importantly, learning to deal with his identity.
Creed is a welcome return to the Rocky franchise. In fact, it’s an awesome return to form both for the franchise and Stallone. The movie, while still containing the required cheese of every Rocky film, is wildly entertaining, intense, inspiring, motivating and, the best part, good. It’s reminiscent of the first Rocky film in more ways than one but it also has some significant differences.
I always say that America loves boxing movies because no matter how good or bad one is, the films tend to always make money. I find it very difficult to not get into them regardless of the quality, but when you have a good boxing movie it’s the type of experience you become fully engrossed in. Creed is the type of film people will be cheering and clapping through, slowly being pulled to the edge of their seats as the intensity level ramps up. The climactic fight at the end of Creed actually got my heart racing, I couldn’t believe it, I felt my chest during a brief lull in the fight and it felt like I had just gone running. I was fixated, sweating, feeling every punch thrown, it was an electrifying experience and one I believe most people, should they be enjoying the movie, will likely experience as well.
Ryan Coogler has done an outstanding job with his first Hollywood film. He got one of Stallone’s best performances of his career on camera, made a visually intense film that didn’t feel too much like a cookie-cutter story even if it mostly was, and it’s the kind of film that has mass appeal thanks to its diversification of cast. In fact, outside of the apparently boring Ali, this is the first movie I can think of where a minority played the lead in a boxing movie, which is crazy since there are so many more minority boxers than white. I also have to give Coogler’s team props for an awesome soundtrack.
Overall, I was incredibly surprised and happy with the way Creed turned out. It has to be one of the most entertaining films of the year and this is coming from a guy who went in with moderate expectations, even after I was disappointed by the first trailer. The film is exactly what you want from a boxing movie. A good story, solid acting, engrossing music, fun training montages, and an intense climactic fight that gets you fired up with your eyes locked on the screen. There are a lot of movies to see this holiday season, whatever you do, make sure Creed is one of them.
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