Creed - 3 smiles

You can’t deny that “Creed” is a crowd-pleasing movie.  It’s also the same old same old. A young boxer with something to prove teams up with a veteran trainer and signs up for the fight of his life against the reigning world champ who looks all set to destroy our spunky hero. This is the original Rocky and also “Creed,” the seventh in the series. In recent years, Stallone hasn’t so much acted in movies as appear in them, playing a plastic version of himself.  He hasn’t given a genuine performance in a long time. “Creed” suggests that Stallone simply needed to be inspired, which is probably why he agreed to appear in a movie he neither wrote nor directed. Director Ryan Coogler, who also co-wrote “Creed,” understands what makes Rocky connect so strongly with audiences – despite his personal accomplishments, Rocky is a tragic figure. He has been pummeled by loss in his personal life, but he finds a way to keep going, refusing to succumb to self-pity and depression. Stallone captures these facets of his character in “Creed,” keeping Rocky’s charisma and charm front and center. When Adonis shows up, Rocky isn’t interested. He’s content managing his restaurant and living an uncomplicated life. But Adonis doesn’t give up and this brash, good-hearted kid reminds him of his younger self. However, the movie belongs to Jordan. He has great physicality and he radiates warmth and compassion and drive that push Adonis, humanizing him as a result.

The performances alone would have been enough, but Coogler pushes further, choosing to shoot an entire boxing match from start to finish without a single cut. During one training montage, Stallone tries to keep pace with Jordan at the speed bag, can’t keep up and walks out of the frame, smiling. Another director would have cut the shot, but Coogler leaves it in. As for the movie’s big signature moments, Coogler surprises you by what he chooses to avoid and what he embraces. At one point in the film, Adonis reprises Rocky’s iconic training run through Philadelphia as passers-by look and root him on, except Coogler reimagines it in a way that’s magical and elevating. It’s a little corny, but you don’t care. Jordan is carrying movie history on his shoulders as he runs through the city and he makes the burden seem light. Sure, “Creed” is formulaic and predictable, but it’s also joyful and inspiring.