It's not quite Rocky, was ever going to be? but it still stands out as a moving, heartfelt instalment to the series

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2016)

Let's face it, much like the force awakens this is a 7th entry (even if this is meant as a spin off) in a legendary franchise that has been going around since the 1970s. And much like Star Wars to say that the Rocky movies was going to be a tough act to follow is a understatement.Yet while it doesn't quite match what the other movies were it still does a pretty good job at standing out on its own.
This is a pure next generation spin off which still carries on Rocky's story but this is still far from Rocky VII. The title character acting as the son of Apollo Creed that no one knew off, who is pretty much along with his relationship with Rocky who is still very much a big part of the story the driving force of the film.This could have easily have been the new Rocky V because when I first heard of the idea of this one it still sounded to similar to Rocky and Tommy Gunn in the fifth film. But this is far from the case, the only real similarity is that Rocky is training and mentoring a younger up and coming boxer.
If anything it goes to great lengths to stay true to the nature of the original Rocky, has plenty of nostalgic nods to the other movies but does more than enough to stay out on its own. Creed works well as a great main character to root for in his own right, he has some of the same struggles of living in a legendary fathers shadow that could have found with Rocky Jr's in the last two films. But there is more to the character than this, there is a new sense of trying to prove himself before word gets out about his family history. This starts to bring a new sense of relatability to the character even if we couldn't all know what he is going through.
But it doesn't quite have heart the other films did in the series. It manages to be just as inspiring as the original, and it is a excellent, well made, well acted sports film that regardless of what people will think of it manages to successfully go in its own direction whilst not diverting too far away from what the fans would hope for in the series.
There isn't much that this contributes to the franchise and it might have been best left alone at the end of Rocky Balboa. But it is still worth seeing if you are interested, because even if he is no longer the main focus Rocky is back there is no denying that.