Creed III
★★★ 1/2
It had been a while since I've seen a solid sports film and though predictable, Creed III is an enjoyable journey. Even though I missed out on the second installment, it was easy to jump back in with these characters and their world. It's intriguing to see them navigate their world of success and the stress that comes with such celebrity and expectations. I have always been a big fan of Michael B. Jordan, but this is one of the few times that I felt as if his performance was stilted at times. I don't know if he had too much going on with directing and starring in this film, but his performance in certain scenes were the weaker moments.
One thing that wasn't lacking was the connection between Creed and his friend-turned-foe Damian (Jonathan Majors). Though the character name Damien is a bit on the nose, he is a perfect emotional hurdle for Creed to overcome. All Rocky/Creed movies are predictable. It's in their nature. It's the way they get to the ending that is most intriguing. The heft of the talent on screen probably elevates the scenes more than should be given credit for, but it's hard to beat a training montage. Also, the boxing scenes themselves are wonderfully choreographed and shot, and Jordan pulls off the hard feat of making the final bout stand out amongst everything that has come before it.
