Review: 'Creed III' lands punches while providing something more than a boxing film

At one point in “Creed III” Michael B. Jordan, who plays Adonis Creed, son of the legendary boxer from the “Rocky” films, appears to say thank you and goodbye.

The thank you is for the role that delivered him stardom and box office clout after receiving acclaim for efforts in films such as “Fruitvale Station” and this installment of Adonis’ story allowing him the opportunity to expand his creative talents with his directorial debut.

The goodbye, though bittersweet, comes in conjunction with that gratitude, because it seems quite obvious that Jordan doesn’t want to be inhabiting the same role 30 years from now, but he is grateful for the chance to put his own spin on Adonis’ story.

And of the films in the “Rocky” universe, this one is the least “Rocky” like. Yes, there’s an underdog story, but that character, Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), comes in a person who isn’t remotely likeable, whose motives are dubious at best, ensuring that he’s no one any reasonable person would want to cheer for.

Anderson is a childhood friend of Adonis’ and as a teen was a boxing prodigy. They were like brothers, having lived together in juvenile detention center before Adonis was taken in by his father, Apollo’s, widow, Mary-Anne (Phylicia Rashad). They were close enough that during an act of defending Adonis, who is now retired and managing and promoting the current heavyweight champion, Damian found himself arrested on a gun charge and with prior arrests was treated like an adult and put away for 18 years.

Fast forward to the present and he’s back in Adonis’ life, wanting everything Adonis has achieved and going to great lengths to get it – including a shot at the heavyweight title. It’s an improbable plot point, but so was the original “Rocky.”

However, it’s not the most interesting facet of the story as screenwriters Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin dig deeper into their backgrounds to make a pointed yet subtle observation about children who get lost in the child protection system and how environment and opportunity make all the difference in young lives. Thematically, it provides a little bit more to chew on and consider as the script throws out a couple of surprises that Jordan handles deftly and carefully as the film’s director.

“Creed III,” however, is a boxing movie, and he handles that aspect effectively as well with well-choreographed action and building tension.

His background as an actor helps him in directing his cast, also. Majors, starring in his second major movie in less than a month – “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” being the other – could very easily have been a caricature. He’s not. The character possesses depth that he brings out skillfully.

His chemistry with Jordan is certainly evident as Adonis works through his guilt, pain and sense of obligation.

If this film is meant to say goodbye to Adonis, Jordan likely could not have done significantly better than “Creed III.”

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and television for the Beacon Journal. Reach him at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com.

Review

Movie: “Creed III”

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad

Directed by: Michael B. Jordan

Running time: 1 hour, 56 minutes

Rated: PG-13 for intense sports action, violence and some strong language

Grade: B

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Michael B. Jordan lands successful directing debut in 'Creed III'