Creed II review: With Creed, Ryan Coogler breathed fresh life into the 40-year-old Rocky franchise. A sequel was inevitable. But with Coogler now operating only as an executive producer, how does this follow-up go toe-to-toe with its critically adored predecessor?
Warner Bros.
Creed II finds Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed (Michael B. Jordan) experiencing a high point in both his professional and personal life. Everything is set for a spanner to be thrown in the works. That spanner comes in the form of a challenge for a fight that has been over 30 years in the making. Donnie is challenged to a fight by none other than Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the formidable Russian boxer responsible for killing Donnie’s father’s, Apollo Creed in the ring.
A sequel to Creed was more than likely always going to involve Ivan Drago in some capacity. While Rocky IV is undoubtedly the film that stretches the credibility of the franchise to breaking point, and that is part of the challenge that Creed II sets itself. How does it pay reference to the installment in the franchise that is so very different from all the others, and particularly very different in tone to the first Creed?
The way that Creed II addresses this issue is by operating more as a straight Rocky sequel than the first Creed particularly had any interest in. The script, written by Stallone with Juel Taylor, cherry picks elements from most of the Rocky sequels. It has the structure of Rocky III, similar emotional arcs to Rocky II, and of course an opponent straight out of Rocky IV. It results in a sequel that does feel a lot more familiar, punching the bag to a recognisable rhythm.
While its sense of familiarity initially is a bit disappointing, particularly in the wake of Coogler’s Creed, it all quickly falls away when it becomes clear how much care and skill is put into the character arcs at the heart of the story. While Coogler’s sense of personal attachment to the material is lost, Caple Jr. compensates by bringing his own grand sense of style to the proceedings. Creed II feels like the work of a different director, which helps elevate the material beyond its genre trappings.
Caple Jr.’s style matches the grander drama on display. The film feels more grandiose like many sequels often tend to do, but there is a great deal of grace and bravado to Caple Jr.’s eye that really propels the action. The way he shoots the boxing, in particular, feels all his own. While he tips his hat to Coogler’s style and approach, namely through shooting over the shoulder of the fighters, he also makes the fights pack more of a visceral punch. With exceptional editing, well-judged shot variation and bone-rattling sound effects, the film has a great eye and ear when it comes to its fight scenes. Caple Jr. also knows how to deliver the goods when it comes to the all-important training montage, and boy is it a doozy!
What truly grabs your affection for the film though is its attention to character and their respective arcs. The Rocky franchise has always been one with a very large heart, and one it wears proudly on its sleeve, and Creed II is no different. Every performance carries with it a sense of genuine love for their characters, with Michael B. Jordan once again more than proving that he is capable of carrying this franchise on his shoulders. This is a film more about Donnie coming of age, coming to terms with the man that he wants to be what with a kid on the way with Bianca (Tessa Thompson), and Jordan portrays that with the same level of depth and empathy that he managed to convey so well in the first film. Bianca’s arc is certainly more tied with Donnie’s than the last, but the chemistry between her and Jordan remains electric, with Thompson bringing a great level of attitude once again.
The same can be said for the chemistry between Jordan and Stallone. The two play off each other incredibly well, be it in moments of frustration or moments of inspiration, convincing in the surrogate father-son dynamic. Stallone’s script has a tendency to draw the focus more on to Rocky than before, but thankfully it is in service of an emotionally satisfying journey that feels like a culmination of an arc that began with 2006’s Rocky Balboa.
The overriding theme for this film is one of fathers and sons. Donnie is dealing with his expectant fatherhood, Rocky is struggling to know how to reach out to his own son, and then there are the Drago’s. There is something very involving happening between the Drago’s, as Ivan has clearly built up his son Viktor to carry the weight of his own failures. Ivan wants Viktor to reclaim the favour that Ivan once had, often at the expense of affection for his son. It’s a compelling dynamic, and Lundgren and Munteanu play off very well against each other, but the film, unfortunately, isn’t quite bold enough to dedicate more time to them. But what is present does give a more rounded and more sensitive portrayal of the once two-dimensional 80’s villain archetype.
There is no denying that this isn’t as good as the first Creed. Like other Rocky sequels before it, Creed II simply can’t match the level of authenticity found in its original. But there is a great level of consideration and care given to the individual arcs found within the film, meaning that when it comes to the final bout, and THAT music kicks in, you are up on your feet, feeling every punch and willing Donnie on. It is a rousing film, one which relies more on formula but proves that that formula still has one hell of a kick.
While the absence of Coogler can be felt, Creed II is still a highly entertaining, very emotionally satisfying second round that lands most of its punches, proving to be a sequel that is bound to get audiences pumped.
Creed II review by Andrew Gaudion, November 2018.
Creed II is released in cinemas on 30th November 2018.
