“Creed” is a crowd-pleasing triumph. It’s smart and heartwarming in equal measure. The film is made by someone who understands why the original “Rocky” movies work, and it is vastly entertaining.
“Creed” is about Adonis Johnson, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, the Muhammad Ali of the “Rocky” universe. After being raised by Creed’s widow, Johnson doesn’t need to fight, but he still moves to Philadelphia to pursue his dream of being a boxer. There, he trains with Rocky Balboa and gets a shot to fight the light heavyweight champion of the world.
Michael B. Jordan plays Johnson, and he is incredible. I haven’t seen him in many films, but I’m going to see as many of his performances as I can now. He nails both sweeter scenes with his girlfriend Bianca and Balboa, as well as more intense scenes where he expresses fears and doubts.
I grew up watching the “Rocky” movies. I haven’t seen the fifth one, which Bill Simmons says didn’t happen. You get the feeling that the director and co-writer Ryan Coogler loves the “Rocky” franchise from every frame of this film.
Coogler ties in elements from all of the “Rocky” films. Johnson has his father’s swagger, but he also has to overcome others’ perceptions of him, just like Rocky did in the first three “Rocky” films. The antagonist whom Johnson faces in his last bout is a feared man with a thick foreign accent.
Coogler even carries over elements of “Rocky Balboa” — like how Adrian’s death weighs on Rocky. Sylvester Stallone once again plays Balboa, and this is his finest portrayal of the character in decades. He’s funny and touching, and if this is the last time we get to see Balboa then I will be satisfied.
This is also one of the more technically audacious films relating to the “Rocky” franchise. Johnson’s first two fights are filmed in single long takes that are mesmerizing. One swirling long take as Johnson prepares for his big bout against “Pretty” Ricky Conlan is the equal of the shot in “Raging Bull” where Jake LaMotta walks into the ring for his title bout.
The supporting cast is impeccable. Tessa Thompson is engaging as Bianca, who is more developed than most girlfriends in mainstream American movies. Phylicia Rashad is vivid in a small role as Creed’s widow.
I have rarely cheered during a movie in the theater, but I cheered Adonis Johnson on during the final bout. So did the rest of the people in the theater I was in, and so will you.
