#9 CREED III

 

Starring Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors and Phylicia Rashad. Written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin. Directed by Michael B. Jordan. Budget $75 million. Running time 116 minutes. 

Third time around for the Adonis Creed, the son of Apollo Creed - the best friend of Rocky Balboa and major plot motivator for Rocky IV. This, the 9th film in a series first started by Sylvester Stallone back in 1976, marks the first time that Rocky does not appear in the film and he's only mentioned once in passing.

The plot sees Adonis 'Donnie' Creed (Michael B. Jordan) retire from professional boxing to concentrate on enjoying his fabulously fantastic family life with wife Bianca Taylor-Creed (Tess Thompson) and deaf daughter Amara, that is until a presence from his past resurfaces in the guise of Dame, a one-time promising young boxer and best friend of the young Donnie who's spent the last 18 years in prison and is eager for a shot at the title. 

Dame (Jonathan Majors) is so hungry for success he's not just got the eye of the tiger, he's got both its ears, its nose, damn he's got the whole kit(ty) and caboodle. 

So when the plot contrives to put the reigning champion in the ring with Dame it's inevitable that Dame emerges triumphant thanks to so truly brutal and underhand boxing tactics that forces Donnie to come out of retirement for one last fight and you have Creed III.

Michael B. Jordan directs this well, the fight scenes are good and brutal, and both Jordan and Majors devour the screen. Majors exudes so much raw talent that you can't take your eyes off him.

There to bring the much needed emotional baggage is Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), Apollo Creed's wife and Donnie's mum, whose main role is to do a Burgess Meredith in the third act to provide the final punch of motivation Donnie needs to get into the ring again, thus triggering the obligatory training montage sequence before the main bout can take place.

If Creed II felt like a rehash of Rocky IV, then this by comparison feels like Rocky III, with Dame taking the James Clubber Lang role. Interestingly enough that idea was initially suggested as the plot of Creed II. 

Anyway, I loved the first Creed film, and enjoyed the second too. There's no great need for this bout, but while it was on it was a satisfying and entertaining enough, although I doubt I'll come back for a rematch. 

7/10