Creed II was… fantastic!
Creed II takes the groundwork laid by the first and builds on it. Adonis Creed’s character arc continues to progress as his life, which seems to be coming together in all the ways he wants, is thrown into turmoil as the past returns to haunt him once more.
This film utilizes Rocky IV’s storyline to force Creed to come to terms with this sense of expectation he has placed on himself. Michael B Jordan does an excellent job of portraying the earnest vulnerability of Creed once more. His moments of raw power in the boxing ring are that much more effective after we get a sense for his vulnerability. Sylvester Stallone and Tessa Thompson return to act as the primary support for Creed and both do an excellent job helping Creed along his path to redemption.
This is a deeply personal story that retains the thoughtful reflection of its predecessor and the original Rocky film rather than falling into the trap of ever-growing spectacle over substance that Rocky IV did. Boxing films are common enough to almost be their own subgenre and it’s a rare one that breaks the formula, but this stands among the best in the genre.
9/10 Punches above its weight.
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