‘Creed III’ Review: Michael B. Jordan Delivers a TKO in His Directorial Debut

The Creed films have become a popular franchise giving fans a beloved trip down memory lane due to their connection to the classic Rocky movies. Initially starting with Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) in his corner, we move through Creed and Creed II, following Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Michael B. Jordan) as he comes into his own as a fighter and a man.

Creed III is a glorious introduction to Donnie’s new reality. While we miss Stallone, this film solidifies that this franchise belongs to Jordan. In his first standalone film and directorial debut, Jordan can stretch on and off the camera, adding extra depth to the story he tells. There are so many things to love about this film which is why it’s already been certified fresh. From outstanding performances, excellent writing, and direction comes a story that celebrates family, passion, and the fight to overcome the past.

***Mild spoilers ahead in case you don’t already anticipate how it all ends.***

The film opens with a brief prologue that takes us to Adonis’ childhood. Here we see a teenage Adonis (Thaddeus J. Mixon) as an assistant to underground fighter Damian “Dame” Anderson (Spence Moore II). It’s clear that Dame is a raw talent in the ring. He is a fierce fighter and has the admiration of Adonis. We can tell that Dame is older than Adonis and that they share a thick-as-thieves brother relationship. They banter back and forth, playfully dissing each other. Dame wins his underground fight and gives some of the cash to Adonis. You can tell that Dame feels responsible for Adonis to a degree. A pit stop at a liquor store ends in a violent altercation. Dame pulls a gun and gets arrested. Adonis gets away and becomes the Creed we know today.

It’s present-day, and Adonis (Jordan) is retired after dominating the boxing world. Everything seems to be running smoothly until his childhood friend, former boxing prodigy Damian aka “Diamond Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after being released from a lengthy prison sentence. Naturally, Adonis offers Dame help getting him situated after his prison release but isn’t prepared when Dame requests to become the next heavyweight champion. Dame is insistent on making up for lost time, wants his shot in the ring, and is willing to play dirty to make it happen.

What should’ve been a loving reunion between two old friends begins to spiral downward, which leads Adonis and Dame to a face-off in the boxing ring, with much more than just a heavyweight title at stake.

Jordan has a great foundation to work from. The pacing is set up through an excellent screenplay penned by Keegan Coogler, and Zach Baylin from a story crafted alongside Ryan Coogler. From there, Jordan simply has to maintain the flow which he does successfully as we peer deeper into Creed’s character and family dynamic.

The ASL representation in the movie caught my attention right away. We’ve known early on that Adonis’ wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson), has a condition that will cause her to lose her hearing. And their daughter Amara (Mila Davis Kent) is deaf. It’s wonderful to see characters living with different conditions represented on screen because they exist in the world. But what was most memorable was not just how the family adapted to her deafness but how they ensured other people adapted as well. When Dame arrives at Adonis’ house for dinner with his family, he goes to greet Amara. After he greets her verbally, Bianca shows him how to sign the phrase to Amara. Bianca and Adonis could’ve simply translated what he said to Amara but required Dame to adapt to her reality instead.

This is a running theme throughout the film. Everyone in the film is adapting to a new reality in one way or another. Adonis is in his post-fighting career. Yes, he willingly retired, but navigating life outside of the ring has its own internal challenges. Similarly, Bianca is no longer performing live because it has a negative effect on her hearing, and she wants to preserve what’s left for as long as possible. Performing was one of her passions, and although she’s still writing and producing, watching others sing her music isn’t the same as performing it herself. Then, you have Dame jostling about how he can reclaim the dream he once had as an over-the-hill boxer. All three are contending with these variables, which meld together to amp up the stakes of this drama between boxing matches.

Thompson brings a silent strength to the character of Bianca. Bianca’s demeanor is poised, even at the side of the ring. She isn’t the pretty accessory that winces in the stands with every punch her man receives. She’s completely tuned in. She can tell when he’s playing; she can tell when he’s stalling, and she can tell when he’s got more in his tank. Her character has never been an ornament and continues to increase as the films move forward. She’s Adonis’ anchor, his safe space. She understands his passion because she has her own. In this film, Bianca spends several scenes trying to break down the wall Adonis has built around his past.

She can tell that Dame’s presence has spun their family dynamic out of orbit. Adonis is resistant to her inquiries at first, but she’s persistent. She doesn’t bully him but reminds him that she’s here and, at some point, he will need to let her in. And when it’s time, she encourages him to do what he has to do to fix the situation between him and Dame, which in this case means getting back into the ring.

Several stylistic choices aided in the film’s overall impression, such as parallels weaved between Rocky and Creed in the film. For example, while training where Rocky would run to the top of the stairs, Creed runs to the top of the mountain in front of the Hollywood sign.

In another scene, Adonis goes to talk to Dame before a fight. After their conversation, Dame resumes framing his mind before stepping into the ring, and Adonis walks towards the stadium. They pause and turn towards each other as if looking at one another through the other side of the wall. It’s a powerful scene that symbolizes this obstacle that’s not just between them but between their ability to move forward.

The final boxing scene strips away the audience, and it’s just Adonis and Dame going blow for blow with no background audio outside of the punches. There was no cheering when the hits landed. No cameras flashing. Just Adonis and Dame. This was a visual illustration of the internal fight happening during the match.

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.

Majors was the perfect co-star for Jordan, pushing him in every scene without stealing the spotlight. Instead, Majors challenged Jordan to elevate his performance, resulting in unforgettable moments.

The ending was anti-climactic in the best way. Yes, he won the match, but that wasn’t the real victory. That win lies in the conversation between Adonis and Dame at the end when Dame surrenders the chip on his shoulder to let Adonis know that it wasn’t his fault and offers forgiveness so that Adonis and himself could be free from past chains that tethered them together.

It’s here we understand that Dame isn’t a bad guy. He’s not a villain, and you can tell at the end scene that he just wanted his shot. During the match, you can see in his eyes that he wasn’t actually fighting Adonis. They both had misplaced anger from their traumas.

Needless to say, Michael B. Jordan came out swinging for his directorial debut, and there’s no question that Creed belongs to him. The high-stakes sports drama gives audiences a knockout story that’ll leave your heart warmed and remind them that there’s nothing you can’t overcome if you’re willing to fight.

Creed III is in theaters on March 3.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars