Creed III Review: Anime Influence Shines in Inspiring Boxing Movie

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In true Stallone fashion, Michael B. Jordan has taken the reins of the  franchise. He directs and stars in , a sports drama following Adonis Creed after his retirement as the heavyweight boxing champion. When his old friend Damian “Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors) gets out of prison, the two reconnect, but bad blood between them can only be settled in the ring. The  series is no stranger to putting newcomers in the director’s chair. After Ryan Coogler and Steven Caple Jr., Jordan was hired for double duty on an epic, thrilling boxing movie that packs a punch.

This movie found itself in a tight spot. After concluding the story of Rocky Balboa in  (along with a real falling out between Stallone and the producers), the story of the Italian Stallion was over. So how do you make a  movie with no Rocky? You go into the life of Adonis “Donnie” Creed, the new face of the series, and remove him from the shadow of both the iconic underdog and his father, Apollo.  begins by delving into Donnie’s adolescent years, getting into boxing with his best friend, Dame. He gets into an altercation in the street as we punch into the present, where Donnie wins a boxing match against an old foe.

As the new heavyweight champion, this film explores Donnie in a new place in his life. He is far removed from the young up-and-comer who wanted to make his own legacy in the 2015 film. He is older, raising a young daughter named Amara (Mila Davis-Kent). The father-daughter relationship brings a new heart and soul that the film greatly benefits from, grounding our protagonist and bringing out a warm side to him. The film features Creed interacting with many people, showing how he code switches once he begins talking to Dame.

The screenplay from Keenan