Creed Movie Review

"Time takes everybody out; time's undefeated."
-Rocky Balboa

I like the Rocky movies as much as the next guy and there's no denying the impact that the 1976 film had on Hollywood. It's viewed as a classic today, and for good reason, But the name and the character was definitely sucked dry by the five sequels over the next few decades and there's really only so many ways you can do a boxing movie, But here Creed comes along, almost 40 years later, and completely blew me away. Directed by the young Ryan Coogler who previously directed Fruitvale Station, which also starred Michael B. Jordan. Just as in Fruitvale Station, Coogler proves that he has a strong grip on the craft and can get the best out of the people he's directing.

I came in with rather high expectations because of word of mouth and positive initial reviews, but a part of me was still skeptical because Stallone was still going to be a main character in this film and I'm of the opinion that he's washed up. On the flip side, who can play Rocky better than Stallone? Either way, I'm glad I was wrong. To be clear, this is very much Michael B. Jordan's film. He plays Adonis Johnson-Creed, son of Apollo Creed who was an important character in the Rocky franchise who went up against Rocky Balboa, more than once. 

We get a peek into Johnson's childhood, in and out of juvenile facilities because of his tendency to fight. His mother died while he was young and Apollo died before he was born, so fighting was all he knew to survive. Also important to note, he was a child of wedlock; Apollo had an affair with his mother but died before he was born. His guardian angel comes in the form of Mary Anne Creed, Apollo's widow who decided to take him in and raise him as her own.

Fast forward 17 years or so and we see Adonis at his office day job doing well for himself. This is offset by the brutal fight clubs he partakes in right across the border in Tijuana. So clearly the fighter in him never left, and against his adoptive mother's wishes, he sets his sights to fighting full time and quits his job. There were two things I loved about Adonis from the jump. One was that he was determined to make a name for himself as a Johnson, not as a Creed. No one knew who his father was except him and Mary Anne. The other was that he was willing to leave the more than comfortable lifestyle he had in California, leave his mother, and pursue his dreams in Philadelphia.

Coogler does a really amazing job at reminding us that this is indeed a sequel in the Rocky saga, while still maintaining its own identity. I also think it was genius to throw in Balboa himself, aged and worn down. Considering Stallone isn't quite the Italian Stallion that he used to be and that playing Rocky must be second nature to him, I think it was a great choice. Stallone added a great deal of nostalgia and Coogler really used his strengths to reinforce the movie as a whole. I never felt that I wanted Rocky off the screen. He had his own story and Adonis had his, but they both helped each other a great deal because they were both flawed characters with something in common; Apollo Creed and their love of boxing.

Another character I'd be foolish to not mention is Bianca, played by Tessa Thompson. She didn't only serve as Adonis' love interest but as a person who was just as important to the story as Adonis and Rocky. She was an interesting character with her own life struggles, who through her strengths and aspirations, helped Adonis move forward with his life. They both caused each other pain but at the end of the day built each other up. The on-screen chemistry was just right between Jordan and Thompson which is always important in making the performances more believable.

While on the topic of performances, I'd like to point out that Michael B. Jordan was at the top of his game. He gave a stellar performance, from his highs to his lows. He nailed the dramatic and the low-key comedy. He is a fantastic young talent who has a few great performances under his belt and a long career ahead of him. Coogler also being one of the writers for the film, really executed his vision of what he wanted it to be. Creed goes through all the motions that other boxing movies go through. The dramatic training sessions, the failures and the victories, the hot-headed decisions. But where Creed exceeds is in the storytelling. You feel for this character and you also look up to him. Adonis  serves as a great role model for kids who grow up under rough circumstances.

The mixture of characters and elements really come together to make a film that is an absolute blast to watch and something to rave about to your friends. With the added nostalgia that Stallone brings to the table with his performance as Rocky, that also serves to counterbalances Jordan's performance, Creed was nearly perfect. It never felt campy or cheesy and I felt like the stakes were always high for Adonis, which is what kept him going. I give Creed a 9.5 out 10 for being a down right spectacular film to watch without riding the coattails of its predecessors.