‘Creed III’ review: Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors smack ‘Rocky’ movies back in gear
Rocky, no problem.
The electric and satisfying “Creed III” (★★★½ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters Friday) proves Sylvester Stallone’s long-running boxing-movie franchise is in good hands with Michael B. Jordan, both in front of and behind the camera. In addition to reprising his role as Adonis Creed, Jordan packs his directorial debut with the usual “Rocky” melodrama and bombastic ring entrances while freshening the series with stylish, anime-influenced fights and a new spotlight on deaf representation.
The not-so-secret weapon, however, is a powerful antagonistic performance from Jonathan Majors (currently giving Marvel heroes fits and fists in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”), who seems hellbent on punching up every film universe he can.
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The first two “Creed” movies focused on Adonis becoming his own man and, with the help of Stallone’s Rocky Balboa, emerging from the shadow of his father, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). The threequel finds Adonis reveling in retirement: Instead of getting punched regularly, he enjoys tea parties with his daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), offers moral support to his music producer wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson), and promotes the next generation of ring stars.
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Adonis is conflicted, though “Diamond Dame” hits home, reminding him of the time his dad gave little-known Rocky a match back in the day. Those close to Adonis are wary of his old friend’s intentions, but survivor’s guilt – and needing an opponent for current champ Felix Chavez (Jose Benavidez) – lead to a high-profile match where Dame shows his true colors, bad blood boils to the surface, and Adonis has to get back in shape for a showdown.
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Both come into play with Dame. Aside from Apollo, “Rocky” villains haven’t always been the deepest characters, but Majors creates something special here with a dark spin on the underdog tale. Mixing the fierceness and smack-talk of Mr. T’s Clubber Lang with real-life champ Mike Tyson’s ring gear and swagger, Majors infuses Dame with palpable pain and underlying rage.
Creed II,” the new film doesn’t quite match the sheer exhilaration of Ryan Coogler’s fantastic 2015 original, yet with the unbeatable combination of Jordan’s eye for filmmaking and Majors’ phenomenal acting, it comes pretty close.What’s true (and what’s not) in ‘super-charged’ survival movie
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