QR Film Review: Creed II
Creed II, the anticipated sequel to Ryan Coogler’s excellent 2015 Rocky Spin-off is a strong follow-up film. We see Michael B Jordan return as Adonis Creed to face the personal challenge of Victor Drago. The sequel struggles to reach the intensity and style of the first, however thrives on the chemistry of an excellent cast and a strong understanding of the dynamics of these characters and themes which shine through what appears on the surface to be a relatively uninspired story.
The film opens with the eponymous Adonis Creed securing the World Heavyweight Belt his father once held. What should be the peak of Adonis’ career quickly comes crashing down with the very personal challenge of Victor Drago (Florian Munteanu) son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lungdren). This is in addition to the news that his new wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson) is pregnant. Adonis desperately wants to prove himself against the young Drago despite the warnings of all his closest friends and family including Rocky (Sylvester Stallone). The film has a strong set up but never quite feels as genuine and emphatic as the first Creed film. The same strong characters populate this story and all are well realised and given time to shine but despite this the film just doesn’t quite reach the same heights.
The film as much a sequel to 2015’s Creed as it is to 1985’s Rocky IV. For the uninitiated, Ivan Drago killed Adonis’ father Apollo in the 1985 film. Although since then Drago has fallen from grace, this fall and subsequent return to the spotlight through his son is something the film toys with but never fully explores. This is really the story of this film, the Rocky/Drago dynamic is largely unexplored as is Adonis’ own struggle with taking this difficult fight in light of his growing family.
This is not to say the film isn’t good. Michael B Jordan once again brings a strong performance to a huge blockbuster following his turn in 2015’s Creed and this year’s Black Panther. While Stallone once again turns in a subdued, powerful performance as a character he has played for over forty years. Something is missing, he is excellent and certainly a suitable goodbye for such an iconic character but it just does not feel worthy of the praise he received for the original Creed.
The rest of the cast also turn in excellent performances with Thompson being especially praise worthy for her truly empathetic performance as Adonis’ long struggling wife and new mother. The other major player’s here are Rocky’s old nemesis, Drago and his son. Victor is little more than an angry mouthpiece and muscle for his father. He is an underdeveloped villain who lives in his father’s shadow, once again an idea the film entertains but fully explores. The dynamic between the two is certainly established as interesting but never properly examined even as the film teases an interesting turn toward its final moments. Creed II is not a bad film, not in the slightest. It is an exciting entertaining romp of a film, but nonetheless an intangible excitement, quality and importance has been lost here. Something which is only highlighted given the emphasis the film puts on history and legacy, as well as its close ties to the original Creed and Rocky IV.
Something the film has certainly lost is the masterful direction and fiery style Ryan Coogler brought to the original film. Coogler did not return for this sequel and, as a whole, the film loses some intangible style, being directed by Steven Caple Jr. This is most notable in the fight scenes. They remain visceral and intense, but they are certainly not on par with the amazing one shot fight scene in the original Creed. The film also feels unfinished; there are plot points which seem to jump forward and it seems as though some key scenes were left on the cutting room floor.
As a whole Creed II is certainly entertaining, a strong set-up and a good story populated with strong characters. The third act is especially exciting and impactful. In the same way the original Rocky is a critical darling and a genuinely fantastic film while the originals are seen as entertaining but not so much well-crafted films. This is a fun film but as a Creed sequel, it feels slightly hollow and falls short of the outstanding original. It does, however, remain entertaining all the same, and well worth a watch for fans of either franchise or those seeking a good popcorn flick.
3/5
Sean Hughes