A Reel Review: CREED III

The biggest question around CREED III, the third film to spinoff from the famed ROCKY franchise, is how well it can punch without The Italian Stallion himself, Rocky Balboa. ROCKY founder and star Sylvester Stallone is absent this time around, leaving star (and first-time director) Michael B. Jordan to take swings on his own. 

 

Adonis Creed (Jordan), son of famous boxer Apollo Creed, retires as the World Heavyweight Champion, only to be challenged by Dame (Jonathan Majors), an old childhood friend. 

 

Directed by Jordan, CREED III plays out like a boxer’s WRATH OF KHAN. Dame is out for revenge against Adonis, blaming him for his 18-year incarceration, which in his eyes robbed him of the life that Adonis wound up having. The two go back a long way, having grown up together in a group home before a street fight sent Dame down a path to prison. Once released, Dame works his way into Adonis’ good graces, before a late-film twist puts the two of them on a blood battle. 

 

Ultimately it becomes a Creed vs. Dame fight, and the film does great work in creating empathy for both characters…despite Dame pulling a dirty trick or two. Adonis is looking to live a life of peace with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson), and daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), while Dame is looking to finally get the life he thought he had lined up. There is emotion and real-world stakes at play, and CREED III plays out less of a boxing/sports movie and more of a film about family and friendship. 

 

But there is still boxing to be had in CREED III, and it delivers big. Jordan puts the camera inside the ring at all times, always moving with fighters and having us feel every bone-crushing punch. Audiences will be ducking on every left-hook and jab. A boxer’s perspective is shown, giving us new insight to what they see and feel in that ring…and the end result is a thrill. 

 

Also a thrill is the acting. Michael B. Jordan puts in the physical and emotional work, and delivers what may be his best role. Jonathan Majors is an absolute force of muscle and emotion. Tessa Thompson is excellent as always, and little Mila Davis-Kent is a delight. 

 

Despite not involving Rocky himself, CREED III carries a lot of the ol’ Balboa spirit, and the lessons Adonis learned from him in past films come back around here. Every punch that CREED III throws lands and lands hard, and Apollo would be proud. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it