“Creed” is, for all intents and purposes, a Rocky sequel filled with references and nods to the original franchise, most notably, Sylvester Stallone reprising the role of the Champ himself, Rocky Balboa.
The film holds a comfortable familiarity to the classic Rocky pictures while establishing a unique modernity and originality with the help of fresh direction from young Filmmaker Ryan Coogler and the acting of rising-star Michael B. Jordan.
Jordan, who dons the role of Adonis Johnson Creed, captures likeable, everyman attributes similar to those of the Italian Stallion in the original series while adding a new dynamic of trials and tribulations that come from being the son of former Champion of the World, Apollo Creed.
Don’t be intimidated by the backstory. Even without watching the first six Rocky movies, or having any background knowledge on boxing in general, viewers will still manage to become enveloped in the excitement of competitive fighting with the help of the well arranged soundtrack and a pre-climax fight in the middle of the film that stands out as one of the more exhilarating sports sequences in the history of cinema.
Over the course the movie, Adonis works hard to separate himself from his father’s name and legacy so he can make it on his own and be a star through his own successes.
Only when he accepts his Creed lineage does he realize he is able to make a name for himself while honoring his late father at the same time.
Upon Adonis’ acceptance of the Creed name, his next triumph is met with the famous Rocky anthem, a song highly anticipated but absent for the majority of the movie.
Working off Adonis’ new-found appreciation for his father’s achievements it becomes apparent that the use of the famous score serves only as a reminder of the glories of the past while paving the way for the potential of the future. Proving that Creed is not only the fighter of the future, but the fighting film of the generation.
I give Creed 3/4 stars
