I am a big fan of the first two Creed movies. Films that bounced off the Rocky franchise with a protagonist with his father’s legacy and dealing with mountainous physical and mental hardships. It combined explosive choregraphed fights and produced dramatic storytelling that made the Ryan Coogler films feel organic in its predecessor’s shadow. The third movie, while ambitious, does not resonate with me on its final product.
WARNING: This post features heavy spoilers because I lack the discipline to do a spoiler free thought. Maybe one day.
Creed III is a premise I enjoy because the backstory is phenomenal. Creed (Michael B. Jordan) confronts his past through Damian “Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors) who was incarcerated by a decision that the protagonist committed. A fated rivalry setup that unfortunately falls flat due to the amount of clutter during the film’s progression. Dame and Creed reunite with Creed seeking to correct his mistake by inviting Dame to box at his gym. Dame seemingly accepts to utilize his second chance to reach his once lost dream before imprisonment.
The movie later reveals that Dame had orchestrated the setup to get his alleged golden ticket with Creed’s star boxer. Instead of manipulating Creed for Dame’s shot, I would have liked to see their relationship fractured from their reunion. Creed offering a second chance and Dame slapping it away to spit on the false rep that his former friend had amassed. The prominent threat then would be Dame blazing down this path of vengeance and strength that surpasses Adonis’s own legacy. Instead, other plotlines like Bianca’s (Tessa Thompson) retired music career, Creed’s daughter fighting, and his mother’s declining health take bigger agency.
This also brings me to Adonis himself. Dame is portrayed as the better boxer during their youth while Adonis was his cornerman. Creed was never weary of losing against Dame and was able to prepare for their fight through one training montage. Sure, Duke (Wood Harris), lists off the many injuries that Adonis sustained, but they were only mentioned in one line during the third act. Without properly addressing Creed’s condition or any present fear of Dame, Creed never feels like the underdog thus assuring his victory. Which is unfortunate giving how the first two movies were unpredictable with the outcome of the protagonist’s fights.
Finale
The third movie of the Creed franchise can be appreciated but comes up short. The film does have its merits such as Jonathan Majors performance, the soundtrack going hard, and the visually impressive final fight. While the climax is basically a giant anime reference, seeing its implementation is rewarding as an anime fan. Few combat sport movies use storytelling visuals such as Creed III did. Most opt for a battle with dynamic shots/angles and a voice over or flashback. If there is a Creed IV, I only wish for it to focus like the first two movies.
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