Creed III

 

     Don't be sucker punched by this money grab. The third outing in the series is far from a charm despite Michael B. Jordan's best efforts to direct and star.

     Mr. Jordan definitely has star power and co-star Jonathan Majors is a growing force in film, especially this year (he's the best thing about "Quantumania"). The two certainly deliver in the boxing sequences. What lets them down is the sorry excuse for a credible plot. Thin to begin with, the story rushes through the past to establish the present and it's consequences and then rushes through the present just to have a reason for both men to box each other in the climax. It's just not credible.

     Co-stars Tessa Thompson, Mila Davis-Kent and Phylicia Rashad are there to add gravitas to the story. Ms. Davis-Kent is an adorable, deaf pre-teen actress who plays Creed's daughter. You can see the set up gestating here for Creed IV a mile away. The film also co-stars Florian Munteanu who has been cast to be a human punching bag and Wood Harris as Duke, Creed's trainer, who is actually very good here (although at times, he's channeling Mickey from the "Rocky" films).

     The fight sequences lack any real excitement as the outcome is obvious and the score doesn't help. The music should be accompanying the visuals, not overpowering them to force an audience's emotional response.

     Michael B. Jordan is a very talented actor and budding director. He can have his pick of any multitude of projects. Beloved "Rocky" overstayed his welcome with six films. Hopefully Mr. Jordan's "Creed" won't make the same mistake.