After nearly 50 years onscreen, it’s understandable when a franchise begins to show its age. But, sometimes, it feels like it’s just getting started.
Creed III follows Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed (Michael B. Jordan) as he reaches the pinnacle of his career but realizes that it’s time to pass the torch on to the next generation. Now settling in with family life, Creed spends his days in the offices at the gym, investing and coaching in young talent. But when a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy Damian (Jonathan Majors) emerges from prison, Creed suddenly finds himself forced to revisit a past that he’d long abandoned.
Directed by Michael B. Jordan, Creed III packs an emotional punch, leading to one of the more memorable entries into the franchise. Even if it follows much of the tropes that the series is known for, Jordan somehow manages to make the story feel fresh. There’s an energy to this film that was missing in the previous entry and this is especially noticeable in the film’s final match. Without giving any particular spoilers, Jordan allows this climactic slugfest to look and feel differently than other Rocky ring bouts. By way of its creative visuals, Jordan ensures that this is a moment of storytelling that extends beyond the world of sports.
In a lot of ways, Jordan has grown up as an actor in this role. Now in his third iteration of the character, the actor has stated that the lines have blurred between the character and his own growth into adulthood over the past nine years. And it shows in his performance and his passion for the franchise. Creed III feels personal and it keeps the film grounded.
Although Jordan’s fingerprints are all over the film, arguably the most important names in the credits are the Cooglers. With a story created by Black Panther director (and director of the first film) Ryan and a screenplay written by brother, Keenan, the Cooglers have shown themselves to be an essential piece of the Creed puzzle. Their absence from the previous film was felt as the Cooglers have always imbued their films with a deep sense of soul. Whereas the Rocky films were more heavily focused on Rocky as an American symbol, the Creed films are at their best when they’re telling stories about the Black experience in modern America. The Cooglers excel in bringing a grittier feel to these tales and their return helps elevate the story to be more than about boxing.
Much has been made about the fact that this is the first film in the Rocky legacy without Stallone. However, one can’t deny that the film is far better because of that. Without any bad words to say about Stallone himself, the Creed franchise needs the opportunity to step out from the depths of his very long shadow. Whereas the first film did a good job of keeping the character of Balboa as a supporting role, the additional screen time and legacy to Stallone’s character within the story made Creed II begin to feel like simply another Rocky film. In Creed III, Jordan’s character truly begins to step into the ring on his own, allowing the young man to deal with his own personal issues in his own way.
With the introduction of Dame, Donnie finds himself reliving the past he wanted to forget. His time in a group home was a ghost from a past life. Now living a life of success, he believes that he has somehow moved on from his childhood. But Dame’s arrival forces him to remember the trauma he endured in his youth. To Donnie, he wants to believe that the character he she shows today represents his man he truly is. He’s ready to move on… but first, he must reconcile with the scars left by his past. That may have been a ‘lifetime ago’ yet it still factors into who he is in the present.
His hurts need to heal and these hurts still bleed.
Admittedly, with any franchise, it’s easy to tire of another installment. But, with fire in its belly, Creed III hits different. In fact, it’s possible that this may be a coming-of-age moment for the franchise. And, personally, I’ll be ready for another round.
Special features on the Blu-ray include a look at Michael B. Jordan as both actor and director in “In the Ring/Behind the Camera,” and a featurette on the two main characters, “Donnie and Dame: There’s No Enemy Like the Past,” plus some deleted scenes.
Creed III is available in theatres now.
