'Creed III' Review: A Knockout Sequel
michael b. jordan takes over the reigns of the creed franchise, delivering an introspective and ferocious third instalment.
Audiences are reunited with Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), who has been dominating the boxing world, winning fight after fight and creating a warm, nurturing family of his own in the process. When a childhood friend named Damian (Jonathan Majors) re-enters his life after serving a sentence in prison and stirs up drama from their collective past, the two ultimately face off in the ring to truly settle their differences.
It becomes clear early on that this sequel is going to be far more introspective in regards to its titular character than its previous installments, a refreshing and much-needed change of pace to keep things interesting. The audience learns far more about Adonis in this third entry, delving into the trauma of his past and why he refuses to open up about it with those he holds most dear. Boxing has been an outlet for Adonis to unleash his rage and underlying heartbreak so after he retires, he doesn’t know where to channel those feelings any longer. Simply put, Adonis has never been more interesting or relatable and that works strongly in the film’s favor. Jordan puts forward his best work as the character yet, showing these troubled, more vulnerable sides to great effect, allowing the audience to root for him more.
However, the beating heart of the film is the core relationship between Damian and Adonis, which is wonderfully fleshed out. Not only does the audience learn why Damian justly has a chip on his shoulder, but Majors and Jordan sell their fractured relationship beautifully. Their scenes together vacillate between tender, heartbreaking, and fierce, becoming the best scenes of the film by a considerable margin. Majors is certainly the standout among the cast, once again delivering a powerhouse performance that feels nothing like he’s delivered before. Damian registers as a wounded animal barely able to keep his human clothes on and when he steps into the ring against Adonis, that skin comes off in a powerful way, a testament to Major’s notable talent. Damian’s re-emergence into Adonis’ life also causes friction between the latter and his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson), a catalyst that spawns terrific exchanges between the couple as they navigate the tumultuous situation.
While the character work is the best of the franchise yet, fans of the series come for the intense boxing sequences. Fortunately, this is where Jordan shows his prowess and promising future as a director. Not only does he craft phenomenal fight sequences that are visceral and grounded, but he implements creative choices that allow this installment to stand out in comparison to its predecessors. There is a potent anime influence throughout, especially in the climactic fight between Adonis and Damian, which is not only visually stunning, but is used as a showcase to highlight the turmoil and history shared between these two former friends. Some fans may find such creative choices off-putting, but Jordan’s choices serve the story and characters, never feeling gimmicky.
The only flaw holding the film back is its unfortunate predictability. It follows the tried and true formula of the Rocky and past two Creed films, never throwing in any needed surprises or swerves. This formula has served these two franchises well, but when it becomes second nature to know where these films are headed from miles away, it’s time to shake up the formula. Also, clocking in at about two hours, the film does feel sluggish at points, making that runtime feel a bit padded and bloated.
Creed III is a visually stunning and emotionally immersive sequel that not only improves on what has come before, but allows Adonis to stand on his own two feet without Rocky, something he’s able to do effortlessly. This is a boxing film that not only delivers the goods for fans of the sport and franchise, but wisely chooses to put the characters before the punches in order to heighten their impact. Not only does this sequel cement Jordan as a director to keep an eye on, but closes out this impressive trilogy with a knockout punch.