When I think about what’s currently available on my local cinema, I struggle to come up with anything even remotely different from the influx of sequels, prequels, remakes and spinoffs to previous films that have had their day. The eighth instalment in the Rocky film series is no exception to this recurring criticism, as it belongs to a franchise that’s known and loved. ‘Creed II’ is effectively a sequel to 2015’s ‘Creed’, the film that takes the credit for rebooting the Rocky franchise after the later films lost its acclaim and popularity among audiences. The success of ‘Creed’ reinstalled faith in the iconic sports drama series with its skilful balance of gut punches and emotional wallops, and its casting of Michael B. Jordan as Rocky’s protégé Adonis Creed, who just happens to be his late boxing rival and best friend’s son. I confess I’m not the biggest die hard fan of the Rocky series: having only seen the first and seventh films before the newest, I have a lot of catching up to do before the next film is released. Although I have run up the famous Rocky Steps in Philadelphia and done a victory dance at the top when on a college trip to the USA, so I am aware of the series’ legacy and cinematic significance.
Now a worldwide icon after his World Heavyweight Championship victory, Adonis Creed is challenged to a deciding fight by Russian boxer Ivan Drago’s son. There is a sense of history repeating itself here as Drago infamously killed Creed’s father in a viscous match that shocked the world and brought Drago to notoriety. Now it’s time for the next generation to battle it out. Almost the entirety of the film builds up to this climatic match, and charts Adonis’s obsessive determination to win the fight his father lost. One of the film’s strengths is the subplots that run parallel to the main storyline, which focus on the troubles Adonis faces as he pursues his gruelling training regime in preparation for the showdown fight, such as the complications in his relationship with surrogate father figure Rocky and the worrying likelihood his new-born baby will inherit his fiancée’s deafness. The alternating storylines tie the events together quite neatly and offer us a more rewarding experience than we may expect in a boxing film.
What works well in ‘Creed II’ is the focus on Adonis’s character development as he tackles the challenges of parenthood, which bring out a more gentle side to his personality as he adjusts to the responsibility of raising a child. There is an adorable scene with Adonis looking after the constantly crying baby alone to give Bianca a break from motherhood. Not only do we see Adonis bond with his child, but the scene works well as a sweet departure from the violent brutality of action in the ring. After eight films is the Rocky series wearing a bit thin? Is it time to hang up the gloves? Perhaps it is, as the events of ‘Creed II’ are very predictable and the structure formulaic. The storyline has pretty much been recycled from the fourth film, the one exception being with a new generation to carry it. That being said, the fight scenes are brilliantly shot and they have the effect of making you feel uncomfortably close to the blood, sweat and tears of boxing. Michael B. Jordan is again very impressive, and Sylvester Stallone has still got it as Rocky Balboa, albeit in the more subdued role of mentoring Adonis. No matter how many Rocky films will continue being made, and how predictable they may be, we will carry on rolling with the punches.
HKFilmBlog 