It was understandable, and in some cases completely valid, to be skeptical of 2015’s Creed. When it was announced, no one wanted it to happen. Being the 7th entry in the Rocky franchise, many worried it would squeeze any life left out of the franchise. Now, 3 years since its release, many, myself included, are willing to call it one of the best, if not the best, entry in the franchise, as it honored what came before and forged a new path ahead.
With Creed II, it doesn’t come close to the freshness, originality, and creative spark that came with the first film. More than anything, it embraces more of a traditional Rocky structure and thus comes across as your typical paint-by-numbers Rocky flick. On the other hand, it’s a paint-by-numbers Rocky flick that packs enough heart, character, and warmth to make it very entertaining nonetheless.
Three years after the events of Creed, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is at the top of his game, becoming as popular and confident as his father Apollo was in his prime. But his reputation will reach a breaking point when Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), son of notorious former boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), challenges him. Creed must now face the fight of his life as he goes up against the son of the man who killed his father, and he’ll need all the support he can get from his girlfriend-turned-fiancé Bianca (Tessa Thompson) as well as father figure and mentor Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) if he is to remain the champion and avenge his father.
If it hasn’t been obvious enough, Creed II practically follows the same overarching structure as Rocky IV. You have a fighter in his prime who faces an imposing adversary and experiences loss and sacrifice before he undergoes a physical, mental, and spiritual rebirth in order to achieve redemption. That can be quite disappointing given the unique and fresh take Ryan Coogler gave Creed back in 2015. However, newcomer Steven Caple, Jr. still manages to put in enough intimacy, humor, heart, and care into his characters that it makes the film something worth investing in. Despite the predictable story beats and character decisions, there’s enough commitment put into the characters, their relationships, and their development where it can overcome the faults of the story.
Michael B. Jordan proves once again why he is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. Much like in the previous entry, Jordan successfully displays a ferocious tenacity that is especially present in his boxing matches. But more so than in the previous film, Adonis is much more vulnerable as he tries to grasp the sins of his father while also attempting to forge a path ahead for himself. Stallone once again proves to be the perfect father figure and mentor to Adonis Creed. Acting more like a father than a coach this time around, Stallone perfectly captures Rocky’s humbleness and wisdom along with the guilt and remorse he feels over his inability to save Apollo all those years ago, which result in his refusal to support Adonis’ fight with Viktor Drago.
Tessa Thompson sadly receives the short end of the stick this time around. While in the first film she exhibited a tenderness and independence that made her an equal to Jordan’s Adonis, she plays much more of a supportive role in this film that sadly ends up pushing her further into the sidelines and never really gives her much to do other than provide supportive comments and gestures. Even though Thompson nonetheless delivers an exceptional performance, it would’ve been nice to see her character take part in a more active role in the story.
But what really surprised me was how much emotional depth was given to Ivan and his son Viktor. We learn that after the events of Rocky IV, Ivan Drago lost everything. He became a heroic figure of a bygone era, having brought shame and disgrace to his homeland for losing to Rocky Balboa. Dolph Lundgren returns to the role and, rather than present the same imposing, almost robotic figure from the 1980s, presents to us a much more vulnerable and deeply flawed human being who needs to retrieve his honor through his son. It gets to the point where during the climactic showdown between Creed and Drago, whoever ends up winning the match, you’re going to feel heartbroken for whoever loses. You don’t want either of them to lose and that’s something you don’t see very often in film, let alone in a boxing movie.
Speaking of which, while not quite as personal and raw as in the first film, the fights continue to bring an intensity and ferocity to the films. Speaking specifically on the climactic brawl between Creed and Drago, every single punch packs emotion and weight behind them, and it can sometimes be overwhelming to say the least. When the fight ends, you’re either in tears from joy/sorrow or sweating from exhaustion.
Overall, Creed II is yet another entertaining entry in the Rocky franchise. It doesn’t come close to the raw, pure, and unique feel of the original, but it packs enough heart, passion, and character to overcome its predictabilities. Jordan, Thompson, and Stallone make for a wonderfully engaging and lovable trio while it was impressive to see the depth put into the villains. While not the most original boxing film out there, Creed II still pack quite a punch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApQbQ0iJQO0&t=1s&w=585