Creed II Review

Creed II

Director: Steven Caple Jr

Cast Headliners: Michael B Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Florian Munteanu, Tessa Thompson

Original Release Date: November 21st, 2018

  The Rocky film series is one of the most iconic of all time. Perhaps its the only boxing and even sports “saga” in existence. Over decades an epic generational tale has been told of the Italian Stallion and his friends, family, and rivals. It's taken various breaks and gone through changes but 2015's Creed was a really good way of being both a reboot and legacy as Apollo's son was trained by Rocky. Creed 2, the eighth overall installment, acts as both a sequel to that but also in a way to Rocky 4 due to a certain soviet involvement. Due to Stallone claiming that this the end of his time as Rocky this may or may not mark the end of the series overall. That makes its legacy extra special and it certainly delivers on that even moreso for fans.

After the last film Adonis Creed (Michael B Jordan) reigns as world boxing heavyweight champion. A short filler fight is witnessed as he defends his title. What any Rocky film is however is who the villain is. The series has had mixed results on this from icons like Apollo Creed and Clubba Lang to misfires like Tommy Gunn and whoever generic actual athletees were fought in the past few modern films. One perhaps stands as the greatest of all in Ivan Drago(Dolph Lundgren) who's take in Rocky IV was menacing as it was a cheesy reflection of the cold war soviet Russian era. He positions his son Viktor(Florian Munteanu, an actual boxer once again) to get revenge on Creed and Rocky Balboa(Sylvester Stallone) after killing Adonis' father many years ago.

This aspect is one of the strongest of the film. It gives it a sense of legacy and connection to the franchise even more than the first Creed. Lundgren's Drago is as menacing as he was in the 80s even without the backing of the USSR. Just as the palette of the film is its a more modern, gritty real take on the character and it totally works. Munteanu's Viktor is pretty great not just as a huge physique but as a acting performance too especially with his father. Any quality villain has a bit of sympathy and this family has their arc amidst their schemes. One only wishes there was even a bit more of it and confrontation between Rocky / Ivan but it comes in moments.

Stallone's Rocky has even more of a main role this time as well despite that. His rapport with Adonis is great and one would hope for perhaps another Oscar nod. He goes through some inspirational and emotional stuff without ever setting foot in the ring. There's ties to Adrian and his family even moreso than the first (although at times familiar) and he manages to crack in some occasional dry humor too. The script for everyone is great if at times cheesy. That's what one kind of wants however.

Jordan's Adonis Creed is also a highlight again. Through boxing and training he gets immensely battered and has challenges both physical and emotional. He packs some raw emotion that is what he's best at in his performances. There's some fantastic stuff behind the scenes with his marriage and parenting challenges with girlfriend / wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) . Thompson's Bianca can be artistical and inspiring although she is along with Adonis' mother Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad) as supporting cast level of involvement that mostly cheers, understandably. There's not many other players although the bit supporters of villainous promoter Buddy Marvell (Russel Hornsby) and Creed's father's trainer's son Little Duke Evers (Wood Harris) have their dramatic moments.

Now acclaimed Ryan Coogler did not direct this or be involved in any way although the person this time Steven Caple Jr does a great impression. There's some fantastic shots especially while boxing with some neat use of first person and slow motion. It feels like one is right in the ring with a modern crisp sheen to everything. The training can get a little ridiculous at times but is visually interesting for the most part. Note must be made for Ludwig Goransson's score as it joins some rap songs. It's emotional, feels filled piano and orchestra with some classic Rocky thrown in at great times. This music takes the drama side of things into truly wonderful territory.

There definitely is a sense of closure to the film if it is Stallone's last take on it. It manages to be a great modernization of the Drago conflict through its revenge and personal stake. There's great boxing, great emotion, great fan tribute and humor. It is long but overall pretty worth it. One must not mind the cheese that exists. That's exactly what it delivers on. Who knows if there's a future but one wouldn't mind and at the same time what a final blow it is . 8.7 out of 10