As the ninth entry in the Rocky franchise, Creed 3 has no business being as entertaining and refreshing of a film as it is, and though the movie does rely on the tried and tested traditions of fictional boxing’s greatest dynasty, it's safe to say Michael B. Jordan excels in adding a good amount of personal touches to the character that made him an absolute movie star.
Even without Sylvester Stallone’s involvement, Creed 3 is a fantastic sports story, yet like all the best Rocky movies, its strengths are not only seen inside the ring but in every scene that continues to develop Adonis Creed as his own man, a real family man for that matter. However, every great protagonist needs something to drive them forward, and in Donnie Creed’s case it's none other than Jonathan Majors, who puts in a stellar performance that makes him the kind of villain, albeit an unlikely one, that most people will fear and even empathize with from time to time.
Creed 3 picks up a few years later after Donnie defeated Viktor Drago, so similar to Rocky, he’s no longer a challenger but a man resting on his laurels, enjoying retirement and raising his daughter Amara, whereas Tessa Thompson’s Bianca has seen her career really pick up as well. Its actual opening scene involves a flashback to Donnie’s teen years, when he and Dame would get into all sorts of trouble leading up to the moment that split the two friends apart.
The use of flashbacks is rather smart for a movie that puts a lot of emphasis on how important it is to reconcile with one's memories, which is exactly what sets off Donnie’s inner conflict throughout the film, long hidden beneath a tough fighter’s armor that even Bianca can’t pierce. While Thompson’s supporting role has always been different to Rocky’s beloved Adrian, Creed 3 only continues to elevate the idea of how vital she is to Donnie, and not just because he’s telling the viewers that’s the case.
The same goes for Mary Anne, Donnie’s adoptive mother, who continues to be a key part of her son’s support system, especially due to her ability to tap into the past, which is this movie’s biggest theme. The one missing piece would be Rocky, who's never named directly in Creed 3, save for a couple of mentions to direct teachings and influences he shared with his protégé.
Even if Stallone’s issues with the Winklers over Rocky have been well documented, and though most people will come out of Creed 3 believing the film doesn’t truly need him, it’s hard to feel the movie wouldn't be even better with his presence in Donnie’s inner circle. This becomes particularly obvious during a couple of segments where Rocky’s life advice would have been quite welcome.
As for the fighting, there is really not a lot of it in Creed 3, with the movie containing two major boxing sequences as well as the typical training montage which should fulfill any Rocky fan’s expectations. Nevertheless, this is where Jordan’s stamp becomes more apparent as the actor-director was definitely not kidding when he said Creed 3 has serious anime influences, which really shine when a boxer looks at certain parts of his opponent’s body looking for the perfect opening.
No part of Creed 3 will invoke sports anime memories like the final showdown between Donnie and Dame, though there is some novelty here too as Majors' powerful performance makes it so that audiences will also be immersed in his underdog boxing style, a blend of Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and dirty tricks at times. For anyone wishing that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania had more Kang, this is definitely their movie, as Dame shows flashes of innocence and brutality just like his Marvel villains, along with some of the aloofness Majors had in The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
The first Creed film bears a clear resemblance to the original Rocky classic, Creed 2 has ties to Rocky 3 and 4 due to the Dragos presence and the way the plot moves, but in Creed 3's it's not possible to point to a specific blueprint that was followed, and in that sense, that originality within the formula might be its biggest merit. Sure, there's a slight nod to Bill Conti's iconic "Gonna Fly Now", yet even Creed 3's score stands out from the other two movies now that Joseph Shirley has stepped in for Ludwig Goransson (Black Panther and The Mandalorian), and the film's hip-hop beats are dropped with perfect timing.
It's through the combination of all these elements that Creed 3 dodges the possibility of franchise fatigue, quite the contrary, it's even tempting to imagine what Jordan can do with the "Creedverse" moving forward, or what his next directing gig will be. Perhaps Creed 3 may not hit the same heights as when Ryan Coogler brought Donnie to life, but it;'s not due to Jordan's filmmaking chops not being up to the challenge.
Rocky's first five movies made audiences grow tired of the franchise, but in Creed's case, the third entry's fast-forwarding almost makes it feel like it's a genuine shame Donnie's career ended so soon. That so many people will be left wanting for Creed 4 or some spinoff with Michael B. Jordan at the helm to happen is surely the best proof of how entertaining and engaging Creed 3 really is.
Creed 3 is currently in theaters.
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