Review: Creed III

Image courtesy of MGM.

"Creed III" - which is the ninth film in the series of films that began with 1976's "Rocky" and is the directorial debut of star Michael B. Jordan - doesn't make too many moves that you can't see far in advance. But let's be honest: The boxing movie provides its own formula, and there's rarely room for surprises or invention unless, say, you're talking about "Raging Bull." 

So, while this third entry in this spinoff series may feel familiar, it's an example of a well-trod storyline handled well. In the process, it introduces a compelling new nemesis while also deepening what we know about the film's hero, Adonis Creed (Jordan), the son of Apollo Creed, who was Rocky's first foe and eventual friend.

As the film opens, young Adonis (Thaddeus J. Mixson) is inseparable from Damian Anderson (Spence Moore II), an older kid with a talent for boxing whom he idolizes. But a run-in with a man named Leon - during which Adonis attacks the man and Damian comes to his aid by pulling a gun - leads to Damian landing an 18-year prison sentence. One of the film's few flaws is a lack of adequate explanation regarding the attack itself.

In the present, Adonis has won another bout, making him the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world. He decides to throw in the towel and retire, spending more time with his musician wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson), who makes reference to continued hearing problems that are never again addressed in one of the film's rare instances of short changing a character, and young daughter.

But one day after leaving the gym where he helps young fighters train, he runs into Damian (Jonathan Majors), who has recently been released from prison. Their first encounters are awkward as it seems that Adonis is uncomfortable in the presence of his old friend - due, perhaps, to lingering guilt over the fact that Damian landed in jail following a row that Adonis started.

There's no need to detail the entire plot here, but suffice it to say that while Adonis at first helps Damian get back into the ring - where he scores a surprisingly brutal victory over a boxing champion named Felix Chavez (Jose Benavidez) - their friendship eventually goes sour and turns into a rivalry. Adonis comes out of retirement to challenge Damian to a fight.

Jordan shows here that he not only knows his way around in front of the camera, but also behind it. "Creed III" is flashy and well made, featuring some of the stylish montages you'd expect in a "Rocky" spinoff. Sylvester Stallone's presence is missed, but there's really no good place to have inserted him in this story, so the decision not to have included him makes sense.

Majors - who has been seemingly ubiquitous as of late - is a major asset to the picture. At first bubbling with a nervous energy, Damian becomes increasingly aggressive as he seethes over what he believes to be the unfairness of Adonis living the life that he was supposed to have lived had he not ended up in prison. From the start, the reunion between the two characters has the uneasy vibe of a tension that is destined to boil over.

And Damian's appearance provides a catalyst for Adonis' own history to bubble to the surface, much to the dismay of his mother (Phylicia Rashad) and wife. In the process, we get to know a little more about our lead character, which is not something that can always be counted on as franchises begin to stack up their entries. In this case, it's welcome.

Will its producers and talent find more ways to tell the story of Rocky Balboa or Adonis Creed? Most likely, especially if this latest entry makes money. Will the series be able to keep up the level of quality? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, "Creed III" is an enjoyable entry in a series that is still going after 45 years.