Creed 3, a film slated for 2023, is not a spoiler.
The second installment, however, hit a sweet spot, providing effectively poignant subplots that are equally as much about boxing as they are about fathers and sons or those nasty bonds that bind. All of this, together with two stunning supporting performances, makes Creed 3 a genuine crowd-pleaser but the weakest in the series to date.
Review and plot summary of Creed 3
Adonis "Donnie" Creed, a retired world heavyweight champion, is living his post-fighter lifestyle. He is working on the century's fight between Felix and Viktor Drago, with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and their adorable daughter Amara, who is hearing impaired.
Creed's big-picture plans were thrown into the balance when Damian (Jonathan Majors) was recently released from prison after serving 18 years for writing to him. This sparked a tense exchange between the two. He now fights Drago in the big title fight.
Jordan's first-time behind the camera, and that's more than telling. He has a clear vision and allows his entire cast, particularly the actors, to shine. You'll watch as he frames Majors and Phylicia Rashad to boost their performances that give the film some emotional punch.
Majors, who played Jordan in The Last Black Man in San Francisco remains one of the greatest performances of the 21st century, is at his ferocious best here. She is also superb in a small but powerful role. Her tender and heartbreaking confrontation with Jordan is already one of the year's greatest and award-worthy.
Jordan took some risks here, particularly in the third act with the final climatic boxing match, by leaving out unnecessary background for overt themes of living in the past as like a prison. I would have liked to see more flashback scenes with the always wonderful Spence Moore II that could have built up and highlighted emotionally charged scenes in the end.
Benavidez is clearly too light for a heavyweight championship match compared to the other fighters. (As well as Creed returning in the ring), and the narratives and tools used to move these scenes along tend to feel rushed and somewhat contrived.
Is Creed 3 the right game?
The two sensational supporting roles by Majors and Rashad, as well as Jordan's competent freshman role behind the camera, make Creed III a crowd-pleasing experience. If only it had a few more knockout blows to make the film arousing success like its predecessors.
What did you think of Creed 3's story? Let us know in the comments.
