By Joel Harley
In Jonathan Majors, the Creed era of a mighty franchise finds its first great antagonist. Not since 1985’s Rocky IV has either hero faced a contender worthy of their talents. Sure, there was Tommy Gunn in 1990, but that one was hateable for the wrong reasons altogether. Not even the prospect of a Drago (Creed II‘s Viktor, played by Florian Munteanu) could liven up the franchise’s recent run of forgettable wannabes.
And then Damian ‘Dame’ Anderson (Majors) appears, a blast from Adonis Creed’s (Michael B. Jordan) past, with scores to settle and high hopes for a shot at the title.
Creed III finds Donnie happily retired, settled with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent). With the return of Dame, Donnie is forced to reckon with sins past, and his own guilt at leaving a once beloved friend in the lurch. Driven by his own torment – and some fairly obvious on Dame’s part – Donnie is manipulated into giving Damian a shot at the title.
To address the lack of elephant in the room, Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky sits this one out entirely, allowing star – and director – Michael B. Jordan to step out from beneath the Italian Stallion’s shadow. On the strength of Creed III, he isn’t missed (no disrespect – his story was wrapped up satisfactorily in Creed II).
After two films focusing on Adonis the fighter, this entry explores the man as a father, son, husband and brother. It’s the Rocky V of Creed films, with Damian serving as Donnie’s meaner, more ruthless mirror. Where all of this is headed is clear (and Damian’s abrupt heel-turn is well telegraphed), but never anything less than compelling – a story of masculinity, buried trauma, and the lengths men will go to in order to not talk about their problems.
Jordan continues to make the series his own with the most stylistic fight sequences to date. The action is propulsive, bone-crunching, and always enthralling – every punch-packing true emotional heft. Here, Adonis Creed strides into the spotlight, delivering the spin-off trilogy its most powerful entry to date.
Creed III is out in UK cinemas now
