Captures the spirit of the original while staying contemporary

Rating: 7/10 (11 May 2016)

To make a film in the dramatic spirit of the first 2 "Rocky" movies (before the character drifted into superhero territory) but to make it still a contemporary film is a neat trick and the work pulls it off nicely. Since the late 1970's boxing has drifted out of the main stream and again become a niche sport (without Google-ing whose the current top contender for the heavyweight crown? Or for that matter whose the current heavyweight champion?). The film reflects the new reality with Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed working the Mexican boxing circuit and holding down a job before leaving to find roots beyond those provided by his father's true wife. While Jordan looks little like Carl Weathers and his dower serious mien tracks not at all with Weathers' portrayal of the elder creed as a charismatic showman who dances with the late James Brown, he physical command of the sport makes for a solid if not compelling leading man outing. Award shows have already given kudos to Stallone for committing to a now humbled, hampered Rock Balboa. The somewhat tacked on final scene of him leaning on Jordan's character to make it to the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps to see the statue of himself that institution longs to rid itself of makes for one of the most compelling in the film. The film itself does well with exploring themes of fatherhood, defiance vs. resignation and identity but less well with actual plot which follows the Rocky formula like an 8 year old following a Martha Stewart recipe. In short, an entertaining film in it's own right and a nice addition to the series.