K.T Simpson
With 5 preceding “Rocky” films and 1 “Creed” film before it, “Creed II” is one of those films that has a whole lot of high expectations sitting behind it, and director Steven Caple Jr. has a large amount of eyeballs focused his way. 2015’s “Creed” was directed by Ryan Coogler, and introduced Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), son of Apollo Creed – who we knew well from the “Rocky” franchise. “Creed II” forms as a sequel to not only “Creed”, but also 1985’s “Rocky IV”, so be sure to freshen your mind on both before heading into the theatre for the latest.
The 8th instalment in the “Rocky” franchise sees the return of number 1 fighter Adonis Creed into the ring, this time following a challenge from Ivan Drago (Florian Munteanu) – son of the infamous Viktor Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the man who killed Adonis’s father Apollo. When Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) hesitates to train him for the upcoming fight, Adonis trains solo, determined to get revenge for what happened to his father.
As with any “Rocky” film, you can expect more than just a boxing match and a few punches to the head. The formula comes with life lessons and heartwarming family moments, as we as an audience are encouraged to think about what is most important in life, and what is worth fighting for. For those who come to see a fight, however, you won’t be disappointed – there’s plenty of action and a lot of ‘killer’ shots by Caple Jr.
Michael B. Jordan was always the perfect choice to play Creed, delivering more than just a pretty face (read: body). He once again stands out in him second film, leaving us confident that he can continue the legacy that Rocky stands aside for.
In saying that, the true stand-out in “Creed II” is the return of Lundgren as Drago. A man of few words, yet he says so much. His performance is amazing and while the story between he and his son takes a second call to that of Creed’s, it becomes one that you truly get invested in.
Fans of the “Rocky” franchise will be eating “Creed II” up, as it is the perfect continuation of the story of the heavyweights. While the story may be a little too sugary for some, and a little predictable for others, it ticks all the boxes and also delivers some nice surprises for those fans that have been following the story since day dot.
The perfect summer popcorn flick.
