‘Creed’ packs a wallop
Creed is the seventh Rocky Balboa movie. The latest installment is the first of the seven that Sylvester Stallone didn’t write. It has Rocky training Apollo Creed’s kid, Adonis, who wants to box in daddy’s footsteps. Though the young man is clearly talented, Rocky is reluctant to return to the sport in any capacity.
Fruitvale Station’s Michael B. Jordan is Adonis and that film’s director, Ryan Coogler, is at the helm. The movie is mostly about Adonis, and Jordan — who is a good actor — is buff and believable. Yes, we like him, but the only reason any of us are drawn to this is Stallone and Rocky. He’s made the beefy boxer into an icon. Rocky is like the neighbor we loved who moved and pops by for a short visit. We’ll put up with some pretty silly concepts just to spend some time with the guy again.
That said, Coogler and first time screenwriter Aaron Covington do a credible job of keeping Stallone’s character alive and finish with an incomplete ending. So if Creed does well enough, we may be treated to a rematch in the future.
Mr. Movie is doing another Kennewick Community Education movie class. It’s your chance to let him know — in person — what you think of what he thinks. Register here: https://kennewick.coursestorm.com/course/you-versus-mr-movie
Creed
Director: Ryan Coogler
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Tony Bellew
Mr. Movie rating: 4 stars
It’s rated PG-13 for mature themes, some violence. It’s playing at Regal’s Columbia Center 8, the Fairchild Cinemas 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen.
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it’s your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 12:33 PM with the headline "‘Creed’ packs a wallop."