How can one not walk into the theatre without a feeling of dread of yet another ‘Rocky’ sequel (perhaps spinoff is a better word)? ‘Rocky’ was the first franchise that became synonymous with the big studio sequel machine that produced sequels of less and less quality as they progressed. Two things gave me a small glimmer of hope when I purchased my ticket: One was the fact that the last sequel, 2006’s ‘Rocky Balboa’, was actually an under-appreciated quality piece of work that went relatively unnoticed by the public due to the public’s reflexive eye rolling at ‘Rocky’ sequels and two was that ‘Fruitvale Station’ Writer/Director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan teamed for another project. My curiosity got the best of me and my glimmer of hope was more than rewarded with a unique take on Rocky’s world that captured all the magic of the original ‘Rocky’, yet is able to stand uniquely on its’ own.
I think the thing that intrigued me the most was that Stallone put his ego on hold and played a supporting character role. There is no macho bravado when Rocky is introduced, only a man in the latter stages of life for whom every person he ever cared for has moved on. However; I am jumping ahead of myself, because this film is squarely about the title character; Creed. The film opens on a troubled boy named Adonis Johnson in the juvenile detention system not able to control his temper or feelings of abandonment, One day a mysterious woman named Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad) shows up and offers him a home and a name: Creed. Mary Anne is Apollo Creed’s widow who has discovered that Apollo fathered a love child from an affair. Mary Anne takes it upon herself to do what is right in her mind and take the boy in. Flash forward to adulthood and we find Adonis having everything he could want, but still restless and troubled. He quits his high paying white collar job in favor of underground Tiajuana boxing matches. He is a fighter at heart and wants to break into professional boxing, but no one will accept someone they consider the silver spooned son of Apollo Creed as a legitimate contender. Adonis leaves his L.A. home to travel to Philadelphia to see if the only man who ever beat Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa’ will train him. After checking into a low rent flop house, Adonis shows up to Rocky’s restaurant to enlist his aid. What Adonis finds is an old man who is long past his days in the ring. While moved by Adonis’s plight Rocky can only say “No”.
Adonis isn’t so easily deterred and trains religiously at Rocky’s old gym and shows up repeatedly to convince Rocky he is worthy. Predictably, Rocky relents and agrees to see if Adonis has what it takes. I think what sets this film on its’ own unique path is Adonis’s love interest with Bianca, his musician neighbor who is progressively losing her hearing. Bianca isn’t just there for a generic love interest or provide Adrianne style support. She has a life journey of her own that will end with her loss of hearing and not being able to pursue the music she loves. Some of the best moments were the interaction of the two. Second is Adonis’s ultimate opponent in the Irish World Boxing Champion ‘Pretty’ Ricky Conlan (Tom Bellew). Conlan is someone whose story I wished they would have developed more. He is the undisputed World Champion, but is unfortunately facing a 7 year prison term for weapons possession. He knows he will be past his prime when he gets out, so he is desperate to have a big payday in order to provide for his family. When he learns that Creed’s son is entering boxing, he decides that type of name recognition could draw a big crowd. Again, despite Conlan’s bad boy antics, we feel for his plight and him as a person.
Like what made the first ‘Rocky’ film great, “Creed’ is about character development. The last 15 minutes of fighting is visceral and exciting to be sure, but the true magic comes from our caring for these people and what has brought them to this point in life. There are plenty of nostalgic throwbacks to the Rocky franchise to appease our thirst for that, but this film stands squarely on its’ own with a modern take on the boxing world. If I have any complaint, it’s that we couldn’t spend even more time developing the relationships. The relationship between Mary Anne and Adonis was too interesting to be such a brief part of the film and ‘Pretty’ Ricky Conlan had a story worth being told in its’ own right.
If you are an eye roller at the thought of another ‘Rocky’ movie then I strongly encourage you to give this film a chance. If you are a ‘Rocky’ fan then go prepared to thoroughly enjoy the ending of the ‘Rocky’ saga, but the launch of a new one. Even if you don’t fall into either of these categories, I still highly recommend this film. Stallone has never been better and I wouldn’t be surprised if his performance will earn him a ‘Best Supporting Actor’ nomination (Supporting? In a ‘Rocky’ movie?). I don’t know how it’s possible after all these years that Stallone can still portray Rocky as the underdog. That takes skill.
I give this film **** stars
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