“Creed” is a well-made film, inspiring and dramatic. It features a believable and interesting story. The chemistry between Michael B. Jordan, as Adonis Creed, and Sylvester Stallone, as Rocky, is excellent. Even if Stallone is playing the iconic boxer for the seventh time, he does a subtle, understated performance that really works. Both Stallone’s experience as an actor and Rocky’s experience as a boxer work well for this film, since Rocky becomes Creed’s trainer.
The story opens with Adonis Creed, the boy, getting into a fight and winding up behind bars in a juvenile home. Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), his deceased father’s wife, shows up to bail him out of trouble. Even though he is the product of an affair, she cares for the boy.
As he grows up, he goes by his mother’s last name, not caring to be associated with his famous father. But when he quits a job where he was just promoted, feeling a sense of dissatisfaction, he goes to the gym where his father was once a boxer. Not being accepted there, he travels to Philadelphia to try and solicit Rocky, his father’s friend and former opponent, to train him. Rocky is reluctant at first, but Adonis wins him over and they begin to form a bond. Along the way, Adonis meets a girl, a singer named Bianca (Tessa Thompson), and begins to feel as if he is part of a family now that he has her and Rocky in his life. When he is offered a chance for a big fight, he looks to Rocky to back him. Rocky is hesitant but agrees. But then Rocky learns he has a major fight of his own to deal with, and he fights for his life.
The movie features themes of friendship, loyalty, hard work, and pursuing a dream. Sadly, strong language and sexual content prevent us from awarding the film our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal.
