Creed is one of the best examples of the most recent Hollywood trend - revisiting a popular franchise years later to try and find a new audience. Ryan Coogler created a movie that felt wholly distinctive to the other Rocky films whilst still fitting snuggly into that world. There were concerns that, with Coogler not at the helm of the sequel, Creed II would suffer. Whilst it may lack some of the originality of Creed, Creed II is still a great boxing movie which highlights both the beauty and brutality of the sport.
Adonis Creed (B Jordan), now heavyweight champion of the world, faces his toughest opponent yet when Ivan Drago (Lundgren) reappears with a son, Viktor (Munteanu). As the intense lineage and bad blood between the two families rises, 'D' must risk the life he has built for his family and create his own legacy.
I've read complains that Creed II is a regression to a more familiar story. In fairness, this film is in some ways more of a sequel to Rocky IV than to Creed. But I struggle to see how that's a bad thing. The regular format of a boxing film has always proven to be an ideal vessel for classical storytelling and Creed II is no exception. The history between the two families is practically Shakespearean and it gives this film plenty of fire and drive. It's very nice to the character of Ivan Drago back, and whilst he and Viktor have a few moments of almost pantomime villainy, the film does a great job of letting you understand the torment and struggle the Dragos have been through and even eliciting some sympathy for them by the end. Don't get me wrong though, the hero of this story is Adonis.
Michael B Jordan spoke recently in an interview about wanting to create his own legacy in this franchise, and he certainly achieves that here. His performance is so powerful, both in a physical and emotional sense. He completely owns the fight sequences - his sheer physical presence coupled with some impeccable cutting and sound editing lets you feel every visceral blow. Out of the ring, he presents such pent-up frustration and guilt, which we only get the briefest glimpses of, but he plays the fleeting moments so well that they feel entirely genuine and earned.
Yet, whilst Michael B Jordan establishes himself as the new star of this franchise, so much of the soul of this story still rests on Rocky Balboa. There's just something about Sylvester Stallone when he dons that fedora - a spark comes back to his eye that we don't see a lot of anymore. He bears a lot of the big emotional beats of the film and he handles these moments brilliantly, giving even the most predictable of plotlines or dialogue so much heart. One moment in particular, towards the end of the film, will likely jerk a tear from the sternest viewer. Regrettably, Tessa Thompson's Bianca feels sidelined for much of the movie, which is a huge shame given her chemistry with Jordan is so on point.
Narratively speaking, Creed II hits every element of a boxing movie that you would want it to. The training montages, in particular, are shot and scored fantastically. There are many references to other Rocky films, especially Rocky IV. Some are very subtle, some are very on the nose - regardless there's plenty for fans of the series to enjoy.
Whilst it may lack a little of the originality and vitality that Coogler brought to the first film, Creed II makes up for it with a thoroughly entertaining narrative and performances. It nails all the beats of a classic boxing story and packs a real emotional punch.
4/5 Stars
*Also please be sure to follow me on Twitter (@T_F_T_S_R), Letterboxd (theboymarshall) and Instagram (thatsthemoneyshot) for more film-related fun
No comments:
Post a Comment