Creed 2 is a KNOCKOUT!

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. This film hasn't been shown yet in the Philippines as this was being written.

ONE Saturday afternoon, I took advantage of my day off from my supermarket work to catch the newest boxing movie Creed 2 starring Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed, the opponent of Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa.

As the title suggests, this is the sequel to the 2015 movie that launched a new look to the Rocky franchise which Stallone started in 1976 where the latter played the underdog Philadelphia boxer whose Cinderella story spawned numerous sequels through the years.

In this new movie, Adonis Creed (Jordan) is enjoying his reign as world heavyweight champion with the help of Rocky (Stallone) as his trainer. He is also having a good time in his romantic relationship with his girlfriend Bianca (Tessa Thompson of Thor: Ragrarok) who is also enjoying a steady career as a pop singer. The couple eventually start a family and Bianca gives birth to a baby girl.

Things take a huge turn when one of Rocky's former foes, Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) arrives in America with his son Viktor (newcomer Florian Munteanu) and challenges the young Creed to a fight to prove who is the best heavyweight in the world. Creed asks Rocky to train him but the latter refuses, obviously still affected by how the elder Drago killed Adonis' father Apollo in an exhibition bout in 1985, which was the main storyline of Rocky IV.

The fight takes place anyway in Las Vegas with Viktor winning via a brutal knockout that leaves Adonis in great pain to his body that he has to be hospitalized. Although Adonis learns that he won the fight by disqualification because of Viktor throwing a punch after the bell sounded, there is no doubt that he wants to avenge that loss and redeem the name of his late father.

After talking things out with Rocky, Adonis eventually decides to train for a rematch with Viktor which will be held in Russia. The fight eventually lasts the full 10 rounds with Adonis eventually winning via a TKO after Ivan throws in the towel upon seeing his son being badly beaten. Wisely, Rocky decides not to enter the ring and celebrate, knowing all too well that the young Creed becomes his own man and not just a carbon copy of his late father.

In the end, all the characters move on with the Dragos running side-by-side even after Viktor's loss. Creed is now enjoying his new-found confidence with his family while Rocky travels to New York to see his son who now has a daughter.

Although I didn't watch the first Creed, one thing I can say is that this sequel is better. The fact that Stallone co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced the movie with the first film's director Ryan Coogler makes this worth watching because of the references to the past movies. There is even an appearance by Bridgette Nielsen (Stallone's ex-wife) who plays Ivan's ex-wife who has left him after Ivan lost to Rocky and saw his boxing career come to a halt and his countrymen practically disowning him.

Although Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone are effective in their respective roles, the scene-stealer is Dolph Lundgren who comes up with a good performance as Ivan Drago. In this film, Drago shows a human side to his character which is a huge contrast to his cold-looking demeanor in Rocky 3. You couldn't help but sympathize with him after he throws in the towel to show concern for his son who is getting beaten black and blue by Adonis.

Aside from acting, Tessa Thompson also shows her singing chops by performing two songs in the soundtrack. She does have a lot of talent which Marvel Studios can exploit in future Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.

Although her role is short, Creed's mom, played by former Cosby Show mom Phylicia Rashad, gives the Adonis character a more human touch. 

I give this movie five stars. It's a real knockout.