Creed II
(MGM/Warner Bros. Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
2015’s “Creed” wasn’t some cynical cash-grab to continue the “Rocky” series that started with the Oscar-winning 1976 classic, but it’s done from a fresh perspective thanks in part to “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler.
But while Coogler relegates to executive producer, another director. Steven Caple Jr. was hired to try to follow the first film’s style and pathos with “Creed II.”
In fact it’s not just a sequel to the first one, but it’s also an excellent follow-up to the silliest and weakest entry of the series “Rocky IV” (remember the robot?).
After beating Danny Wheeler (Andre Ward) in a championship match, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is now the world heavyweight champion, much like his father, Apollo. He also takes his relationship with partially deaf musician Bianca (Tessa Thompson) to the next level by proposing to her.
But the happiness proves brief when he’s challenged by amateur Russian boxer Viktor Drago (UFC fighter Florian Munteanu), who’s the son of disgraced former champion Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Though Creed wants to accept the challenge, his mentor Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), recovering from cancer, warns him not to take on the same kind of match that killed his father. Determined, he goes ahead and trained hard all by himself.
During the match Adonis get injured badly before it ends in a DQ win. He tries to get back to normal life with a now pregnant Bianca, but he’s haunted by the match that almost killed him, while feeling tempted to take on a rematch.
Rocky decides to help him find his inner strength all over again by training him more intensely in the desert. It leads to an electrifying rematch that will have everybody on their feet.
Yes, the movie is what you expect from a “Rocky” movie, especially when it borrows elements from the other sequels when the hero has to take on a bigger challenger and needs help to reclaim his “eye of the tiger.” But underneath that repetitive nature is a story that deepens the characters in ways the other movies couldn’t.
There is more emotional intensity before, during, and after each fight scene that’ll have you feeling for the characters in so many ways. The script, co-written by Stallone, wonderfully handles all those tense and tender moments while still honoring a beloved film legacy.
While it’s odd to follow up a very silly sequel, this film manages to turn Ivan Drago from robotic villain to a full-fledged character while still being a man of few words. That’s evident by an early scene of him and Rocky having a quiet, confrontational reunion in the restaurant, which unpacks years of nostalgia and anger in one scene. His scenes with his son Viktor also packs a dramatic punch when you feel for his sadness and rejection from his own country. Let’s not forget the main character and his own personal journey of redemption.
The scenes in the ring are once again suspenseful and well-choreographed, while the desert training scenes are certainly brutal to watch.
Even when you can tell where the movie goes from Point A to Point B, you’ll remain exhilarated from beginning to end. Plus when you hear the classic “Rocky” motif in the finale, you cannot help but raise your hands in triumph. The acting is across the board fantastic, and every one of them deserves awards notice if not an Oscar. Jordan has the charisma, Stallone brings the dramatic lift, and Thompson revels as both actress and singer.
Lundgren goes deeper with his character much more than in “Rocky IV,” and he should gain a new appreciation by fans everywhere. Munteanu doubles that as Ivan’s son with pain and determination.
After weeks of disappointing sequels, “Creed II” rises to the top and knocks out the competition. Much like Rocky himself, it has the spirit and the heart that will have you stand up and cheer. Its success will likely usher in a “Creed III,” which may seem unlikely for older fans to muster.
But as the old saying goes in Hollywood and Stallone’s world, never say never.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for sports action violence, language, and a scene of sensuality)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 4 Stars (Out of Four)
