Creed II (2018)

In preparation for the upcoming release of Creed III, I figured I’d catch up by watching Creed II. Having really enjoyed the first movie, I was looking forward to the sequel.

Creed II finds Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) winning the heavyweight championship and then facing a foe from his father’s (and Rocky Balboa’s) past. Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu,) the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren,) arrives to challenge Adonis for the championship. Of course, it was Ivan Drago who killed Adonis’ father, Apollo Creed, in an exhibition fight in 1985. A shifty promoter baits Adonis into accepting the fight, much to the chagrin of Rocky (Sylvester Stallone,) who faced the elder Drago in the climactic fight of Rocky IV.

In my review of the original Creed, I praised the movie for its ability to appeal to audiences both new and old. It used the Rocky series to launch the character of Adonis Creed forward. This entry, however, feels like a regression. I don’t want to endlessly compare Creed II to its predecessor but it’s missing many of the elements that allowed the original to win me over. Director Steven Caple Jr. lacks the confident visual panache of Ryan Coogler. While the fight scenes are still exciting and well-paced, a majority of the film feels by-the-numbers. Even the inevitable training montage doesn’t resonate like it should.

The script, co-written by Juel Taylor (Space Jam: A New Legacy) and Stallone, leans a little too hard on Rocky III and Rocky IV for structure and plot elements. And I’m not talking about just the opponent and his motivation. There are several scenes that are straight-up copies from the earlier movies. Most unusual, though, is that the character of Adonis Creed borders on unlikable during the second act. (In all fairness, he calls himself out for being a “bitch” later in the film.)

It may sound like I didn’t enjoy any of Creed II, but that’s not true. I liked seeing the present-day Ivan Drago. I felt bad for the way his character was treated after his loss to Rocky Balboa and how that affects his relationship with his son. And I really enjoyed seeing Dolph Lundgren in a film that’s not on a shelf at the dollar store.

The chemistry between Rocky and Adonis remains strong and playful as it was in the first movie. Stallone’s performance as the older Balboa highlights how comfortable he is in the role. Adonis and Bianca (Tessa Thompson) have their relationship tested by a variety of factors. Jordan and Thompson make a believable (and impossibly attractive) couple.

Even with the weaker plot and less-than-fresh ideas, Creed II remains watchable because the characters are interesting and (aside from the second act) likable. Yes, the movie is predictable and relies on nostalgia. That was true of the first as well. But, as a viewer, I wanted to see how Adonis and his circle of friends and family reacted to what is thrown at them. And there are some surprises to be had in that department.

I’m still looking forward to Creed III but I’m hoping some forward-looking ideas and characters are injected into the mix. I guess we’ll see soon enough.