Film Review: "Creed III"

The Rocky franchise never left a strong impression after my first viewing. It is easy to understand what makes those films beloved, but they simply never connected with me.  Michael B. Jordan’s Creed franchise was something else entirely.  The franchise's surprising strength is its themes of legacy and family.  Rocky Balboa became Adonis Creed’s mentor, which made him the man he is. In Creed III, after a life with family, (Tessa Thompson, Phylicia  Rashad, Mila Davis-Kent) and success, Adonis (Jordan) is pushed to the emotional limit. When an old friend named Damian (Jonathan Majors) returns, Creed has to fight to protect his legacy.

Creed III had massive anticipation among fans for multiple reasons. Besides being another chapter in the Rocky universe, it is attempting to end the journey of this character. Simultaneously, its lead actor (Jordan) was taking a stab at directing. The results are messy, but they deliver an emotional, and often times powerful, conclusion.  Jordan has a keen eye being in the director's chair.  The boxing sequences have pulsating energy, while the dramatic sequence remains grounded in reality.  It is the film’s 116-minute running time that helps to achieve this somewhat tricky balance.  There is never a moment that lags, thanks to a magnetic villain performance from Jonathan Majors.

Majors playing Damian Anderson could have been a caricature of a villain. Whereas he is injected with moments of villainy, but an undercurrent of humanity. This character holds so much unspoken rage that is beautifully displayed on the screen. When that rage reaches a boiling point, you simply cannot look away.  Majors has an imposing physical presence, but also a rather vile emotional presence as well.  What he eventually does in the film is heinous but audiences can understand his perspective.  Michael B. Jordan lets Majors shine on screen and the results are thrilling. Creed III’s biggest strength by some could be considered its biggest weakness by others.

Actors like Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad are not given the same depths in the story compared to the previous films.  Both characters are written to be nothing more than supporters of Adonis’s journey. They deliver fine performances but are mostly used to allow Adonis to express his own rage and anxieties. With this being the shortest film in the franchise, their reduced roles allow the focus on Adonis and Damian’s relationship.  Thompson and Rashad are still great in these roles but do not pull attention away from the main story.  The film is so well-paced that there is no room for the characters to do more than they are given. This might leave some audience members wanting more from them.  Adonis and Damian’s story is compelling enough, that I could forgive the narrative slite.

Creed III is arguably the most personal story in the entire Rocky legacy. For Adonis (Jordan) to truly grow, he needs to face his past head-on. Damian (Majors) is a physical manifestation of Adonis’s anxiety in ways that make for a compelling watch.  Their brotherly dynamic is portrayed as so genuine, that I could forgive the story's familiar structure.  You will have a rather easy job at guessing the outcome. Even if you can guess how the story will conclude, it will not ruin your experience. The journey of Creed III is rather profound, but you have to be willing to reach a familiar destination.  Brutal fighting sequences help raise the stakes with an emotional narrative at its center.  The film is a rousing reminder of why this Rocky/Creed franchise still has gas in the tank.