Back to the ring

Rating: 7/10 (7 December 2018)

Sylvester Stallone did not write Creed but returns as co-writer for Creed II.
Although this is a semi sequel to Rocky IV, the plot is really inspired by Rocky III.
Adonis Creed (Michael B Jordan) has become heavyweight champion of the world. Bianca (Tessa Thompson) is pregnant. They move to LA so Bianca can kick start her singing career.
However there is a cloud on the horizon. A canny boxing promoter has signed up knockout machine Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu,) son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) the man who killed Apollo Creed in an exhibition match.
Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) warns Adonos not to go for the fight. Just as Mickey knew that Rocky was no match for Clubber Lang, Rocky knows that despite his rawness Viktor is lethal.
Adonos refuses to listen to Rocky and takes up the challenge to avenge his father's death. However the Dragos are fighting to restore their pride after Ivan's loss to Rocky which left him being treated like a dog.
The film has some nice small touches such as Viktor's mother making a self serving appearance. Ivan although maybe not showing remorse, is haunted by the events of Rocky IV. He lost everything and this is a chance for redemption. Dolph Lundgren always a better actor when he is given the right material displays a presence even though most of his dialogue is in Russian.
Stallone too shows the right beat as Rocky is kept as support to Adonis, although he is never out of the picture for long.
Director Steven Caple Jr balances the boxing scenes with an emotional story such as Adonis's baby at risk of being born deaf.