Plot
Adonis “Donnie” Johnson, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, is taken in by Creed’s widow when he is just a boy, raising him as her own.
Now a young adult, he is trying to carve a name for himself in LA as a boxer, often going to Mexico to win underground fights. Deciding he wants more, he heads to Philadelphia, to ask the one man to train him, that knows best. Rocky Balboa.
Direction/Cinematography
Directed by Ryan Coogler, his second film with Michael B Jordan after Fruitvale Station (not yet reviewed).
It is all you want it to be as a follow up within the world of Rocky Balboa, it is sweet, with some great attention to character and narrative – and some truly impressive moments within the confines of the ring with the fight sequences.
Cinematography was by Maryse Alberti.
Cast/Characters
Michael B Jordan plays Adonis, who is struggling with being his own ‘person’ and not the name from the past. He clearly works well with Coogler, and the two will go on to work together on different projects (including 2025’s Sinners).
Sylvester Stallone of course plays Rocky, this time as the supporting role as Adonis’ trainer. Coincidentally Stallone was the same age here, as Burgess Meredith was in the first Rocky.
Tessa Thompson plays Bianca, who is a solid female lead – and love interest to Adonis. She has all the hallmarks of a modern Adrian.
Phylicia Rashad plays Mary Anne Creed, who takes Adonis in as a child. She is great, but I just wish we had more of her!
Tony Bellow (a real life boxer) plays Ricky Conlan, who Adonis has to compete against for the Heavyweight Champion.
Breakdown
Starting in 1998, we are introduced to our new protagonist for the film, Adonis – and quickly learn he is the biological son (and love child) of Apollo Creed, who was born just after the original Creed’s death (during the events of Rocky 4). He is sweetly taken in by Apollo’s widow (played by the always brilliant Rashad).
It cuts to 2015, and Adonis Johnson quits his high rise LA office job – to head to Philadelphia where he hunts down Rocky Balboa, and the two bond over their memories, both historic and known of Apollo – with the younger man continuously grilling the older man about who won their ‘third’ fight (you know the one that ended the second film). This had all the hallmarks of the most recent film Rocky Balboa, with Rocky still working at Adrian’s restaurant, and still visiting her grave – now buried next to her is Paulie (Burt Young’s character from all previous six films
Rather than address Adonis’ race, it is more a journey of Adonis becoming his ‘own’ and trying not to live in his fathers shadow. He takes some liberties in the second act when the ‘main’ fight opponent he goes up against, Ricky Conlon – demands that he use the last name Creed within the fight.
Tessa Thompson’s Bianca – who has a near antagonistic start to her meet with Adonis, becomes a solid love interest (and the Adrian to his Rocky). She even gets a significant arc of her own with her health issues (hearing loss) and her ambitions (being a musician).
Rocky is more the secondary character here, but he still gets plenty to do. He becomes Adonis’ trainer, has him move in with him – becoming his ‘uncle’ and befriending Bianca. His age has caught up to him (sly was actually the same age here as Burgess Meredith was in #1), no longer able to train as he used to – and even has a health scare with being diagnosed with cancer. Stallone deserved his Oscar nom for this performance.
The pair have an almost father son relationship, with Rocky’s son now living far away, and Adonis’ father obviously deceased before the movie starts.
The ‘main’ fight between Adonis and World Champ Ricky Conon (coincidentally played by real life boxer Tony Bellow) is solid, but my main problem was there was not enough set up to the fight other than a very brief introduction to Ricky at the start of the film. The final fight, which uses absolutely brilliant one shot close ups of the action is flawless, and the entire 12 rounds are semi played out too – with both characters taking a severe beating. The final, in which mirrors the first Rocky having Creed loose by technicality – takes away the ‘underdog’ Hollywood ending (which I quite prefer).
Overall
A solid “re-boot” of the Rocky franchise with a compelling performance from Michael B Jordan, from his Fruitvale Station Director Ryan Coogler.
With some impressive action sequences during the match (especially the final), career best performances from Sylvester Stallone, and great direction from Coogler.
I’m looking forward to continuing the journey on the next two movies (and potentially a third sequel according to reports at the time of writing this).
4/5
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