CREED II

US, 2018, 130 minutes, Colour.
Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Dolph Lundgren, Florian Munteanu, Russell Hornsby, Wood Harris, Milo Ventimiglia, Robbie Johns, Brigitte Nielsen.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr.

And the answer to the Trivial Pursuit question is: Rocky IV, the question, of course, being: which was the Rocky film in which Drago appeared.

In 2015, Creed, which might be considered a sequel to the Rocky films, proved to be very popular. Michael B. Jordan was very acceptable as the next-generation boxer. And there was Sylvester Stallone again, not only contributing to the writing as he had for all the previous Rocky films, even getting an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor. The director of Creed, Ryan Coogler, had worked with Michael B. Jordan on the thoughtful, Fruitvale Station, and they were part of the team for the highly successful Marvel Universe film, Black Panther.

On release, this sequel received very enthusiastic reviews and responses. It seemed to be exactly what the fans wanted. The screenplay is full of well-worn (or time-honoured) pieces of dialogue, reinforcing the conventions of the boxing film that so enthral the audiences.

Actually, the plot draws on its predecessors very strongly. Adonis Creed is the son of Rocky’s rival, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), and then collaborator in several films. But, in Rocky IV, with the introduction of the Russian fighter, Drago (described in 1985 with the adjective, Soviet), Apollo Creed dies and Rocky vanquishes Drago in the ring. Now, more than 30 years later, here is his son, Viktor Drago, a huge hulk of a man, the actor portraying him, Florian Munteanu, credited with his nickname “Big Nasty�. (And here is Brigitte Nielsen again as Draco’s wife, Viktor’s mother – and was actually married to Sylvester Stallone at the time of Rocky IV.)

And for those expecting big things in the fights, they will not be disappointed. First fight sees Creed overcoming an opponent. Then there is the big fight, for the world heavyweight title, between Creed and Drago, a literally punishing fight. And, of course, there has to be a climax, Creed versus Viktor Drago again, a kind of resurrection fight which goes for 10 rounds, powerfully choreographed. For the audience veterans, there is the enjoyment of hearing excerpts from the original Rocky theme music.

And for those who do not immediately take to boxing films let alone the fights themselves, there is quite some humanity in the underlying plot. With apologies to Sylvester Stallone, who has been a decades-long screen presence and who knows how to write screenplays, Michael B. Jordan is a much more convincing actor. There is his relationship with his girlfriend, Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and a proposal seen (after he nervously asks Rocky for advice). There is also the complication that Younger is deaf, with her hearing aid, which leads to some pathos when she becomes pregnant and there is concern about the condition of the newly-born daughter.

And there is the emotion concerning the comeback fight, the recovery after the battering from Viktor Drago, physical and psychological rehabilitation – and, of course, Rocky urging Creed to the most rigorous training program in the desert, exhausting for the audience as they are comfortably sitting in their theatre seats!

It is all as expected – and who would want it to be otherwise?

In 2018 it is interesting to watch an American film where the hero is fighting a Russian, a bruiser of an opponent, seen as the enemy. And then there is also the thought that it is 42 years since the first Rocky film, which means that it could be still another 40 years with Michael B Jordan coaching the champion of 2058!

1. The popularity of the first Creed film, Adonis Creed as a character, his boxing skills, his fights, his being coached by Rocky Balboa?

2. The popularity of Rocky, from 1976, the many sequels? Sylvester Stallone reprising his role in Creed and again here? Stallone and his writing of the original film, his writing contributions to all sequels including this film?

3. Audiences liking boxing films? The film tradition for these films? And the contribution of the Rocky tradition? Underdogs, imposing fighters and rivalries?

4. Audience knowledge of Apollo Creed, fighting Rocky, collaborating with him, his defeat by Drago in Rocky IV? This film bringing Drago back, his wife, Ludmilla, his coaching his son to fight Creed, to vindicate his own loss against Rocky? The death of Apollo Creed and some vengeance?

5. California settings, apartments, gyms? Philadelphia settings? The trophy room? New York and the boxing matches, arenas, crowds? The comparison with the Moscow staging of the fights? The elaborate staging? The contrast with the desert sequences and the locations for the rigorous training?

6. The musical score, the sense of triumph – and the incorporation of the Rocky theme at various moments?

7. Audience sympathy for Adonis Creed? The initial fight, his skills? The fight for world Champion? His relationship with Bianca, discussions with Rocky about how to propose, Rocky’s advice and words? Bianca in the shower, not hearing Adonis clearly, the humorous and sentimental touches of the proposal and acceptance? The ring?

8. Bianca, from the original film, her relationship with Creed, her hearing impediment, at the fights, going up and down? The strong character, her singing? Her acceptance of the proposal, the marriage, her pregnancy? Supporting Creed in his fights, her presence? Who is supporting him after his battering, his distance from her, the recovery? Giving birth?

9. Creed, his relationship with Bianca, love, her continued support, hospital and his reaction after his battering? The pregnancy, the birth, his presence? The apprehensions about the little girl and her hearing? The tests? The fact that she was deaf, and the later scene with the hearing aids?

10. The fight in Moscow, Viktor Drago and his presence, his fighting, attack and strong, the audience seeing his father, the memories of 30 years, the relationship with Apollo Creed, with Rocky? The father coaching his son and encouraging him?

11. The entrepreneur in Moscow, arranging the fight? The first fight between Viktor and Creed? The intensity, brutal, injuries, Creed’s collapse, Viktor helping himself up and therefore being disqualified? Not gaining the title? Creed retaining the title? The consequences for the battering, hospital, doctors’ opinions, his pride, recovery?

12. The role of Rocky, not being present at the first fight, watching it on television, the camera returning to him and his comments during the bout? His going to see Creed and apologising? The personal relationship, the memories of Apollo? His going to Creed in California, after the visit to the trophy’s room, urging him to special training? The scenes in the desert, the collage of the intensity of training, running, weights, being hit…? And the intercutting of Drago and his coaching his son?

13. The acceptance of the bout? Creed and his mother and their discussions? Bianca and her support?

14. The fanfare in Moscow, Viktor and his being so large, the potential for intimidation? The tactics, the choreography of the fights, the length of the fight, Viktor and his aggressiveness, bullying? Creed and his skills, the support of Rocky, his entourage, mother and Bianca, his final aggression, surviving, the knockout? His retaining his world title? Drago throwing in the towel?

15. The aftermath, Rocky and Creed talking about Rocky visiting his son and grandson? His going to Philadelphia and being welcomed? Rocky and the memories of Adrian, the photos, his talking to her the cemetery?

16. Creed, going to his father’s grave? With Bianca and his daughter – and their future?