Review of Creed (2015) by Filmphonic — 19 Jan 2016

Up-and-coming writer/director Ryan Coogler reunites with his ‘Fruitvale Station’ star Jordan in trying to craft a new legacy from an iconic existing legacy, which portrays the central “Adonis Creed” character fighting for a new legacy, forged by but moving beyond his legendary dad’s legacy.

Needless to say “Legacy” is a central theme of this part coming-of-age, and part relationship drama about never giving up the fight and finding your own place in the world, wherever you come from.

Despite being based in a “Rocky Universe”, ‘Creed’ lacks the camp charm of the early Stallone films and is crafted as a gritty 21st century boxing drama with solid performances from Stallone & Jordan, coupled with a reasonably plausible if predictable narrative, much like the recent ‘Southpaw’.

And like Jake Gyllenhaal in that film, Michael B. Jordan shows true commitment to the role through an impressive physical transformation and the developing of solid Boxing skills that contribute to a convincing portrayal of a modern Light-Heavyweight boxer, not to mention the well choreographed fight sequences featuring real pro boxers that hold up impressively, until the wheels come off for the final fight.

So what builds as a reasonably captivating but restrained homage-paying Boxing drama, then turns into an all out throwback fest with an inevitable nostalgia-dripping final fight and ending.

Director Ryan Coogler just can’t help himself as the legitimate drama and boxing technique are thrown out of the window and we’re left with a ludicrous “phone-booth fight” slugfest that’s completely out of place with the rest of the film, and which builds to a cheesy and disappointingly predictable conclusion.

The Bottom Line….

We might agree with some of the early reviews that praise ‘Creed’ for getting the balance right between paying homage and building a new legacy, had we not seen the rather ludicrous but expected conclusion. ‘Creed’ punches above its weight in the early rounds but ultimately throws in the towel, in other words it’s is an interesting and entertaining enough drama which leaves a slightly sour taste in the mouth.

The simple fact that we have another film which can start a discussion about getting the balance right between the old and new, shows the current insatiable industry appetite for the Nostalgia dollar, and illuminates a drying-up of fresh ideas coupled with an aversion to risk-taking in Hollywood.