109. Creed III; movie review

 

CREED III

Cert 12A

116 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, infrequent strong language

An unknown bum getting a shot at the world title, a fitness regime culminating with a run up a famous hill and a hero in an against-the-odds fight. 

Spin on 47 years from the original Rocky and nothing much has changed.

Except from one obviously missing ingredient - Sylvester Stallone.

This is the first time during the long-running franchise that the character Rocky Balboa hasn't been a key part but safe to say, the makers have otherwise stuck to a very familiar recipe.

Creed III is set three years after Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) has quit the ring having unified boxing's world title belts.

He now owns a Los Angeles gym that has become recognised for training the world's best fighters.

Meanwhile, he lives in luxury with his pop star wife (Tessa Thompson) and their deaf but flourishing daughter (Mila Davis-Kent).

However, his past returns to haunt him when his former best friend (Jonathan Majors) appears after being released from jail after nearly 20 years and wants his chance at the glory which had been denied him.

On the plus side, the ring action is gritty and believable. However, it is nowhere near as intense as the Rocky fights against Creed's dad, Apollo.

But the plot is desperately thin and feels as if the franchise's makers have finally run out of ideas.

This might be down to the fact that Jordan's Creed just doesn't have the same working-class allure as Stallone's Rocky and his character isn't as desperate for success.

Or it may be that Majors isn't the same level of horrible opponent as we have seen in the past.

I found myself being surprised at how invested I was in the first Creed movie in 2016, disappointed by its sequel and now simply bored by the third outing, the first movie directed by Jordan.

Surely, this is the end of the road although it leaves a hint as to where it might go next. Heaven forbid.

Reasons to watch: It's Rocky... sort of

Reasons to avoid: Same old recipe

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 4.5/10

Did you know? Michael B.Jordan put on 24 pounds of muscle in a year to create the look of Adonis Creed.

The final word. Michael B. Jordan: "Every time I checked into Adonis, I was going through a certain thing personally, or I was trying to make the character relatable to me in some type of way, so you get this natural evolution of the character and the franchise that somewhat mirrors what I’m going through or thinking about or working through in my life as well." Third Coast Review

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