Michael B. Jordan talks about the tribute he paid to Mexico in Creed III 5:58
(CNN) --
The "Rocky" sequels aren't exactly known for their nuanced opponents, so give "Creed III" credit for trying to flesh out its antagonist, played by Jonathan Majors.
However, the development of the backstory slows down, in a film that finally delivers what is necessary, but whose broader ambitions under the direction and leadership of Michael B. Jordan are hemmed in by its ring-shaped formula.
I wish the script and the story were in the same way as its protagonists.
Basing the narrative in Adonis Creed's past provides a more solid foundation, but the price to pay is an element of slowness in a film that, despite its impressive cast, never feels particularly light-footed.
A flashback to 20 years ago features young Adonis at a pivotal moment with his friend Damian (Majors when he's older), an up-and-coming Golden Gloves boxer.
Something happens and the latter is sent to jail, and upon his release 18 years later, he is eager to make up for lost time, even though what would normally be considered a boxer's prime is well past.
Adonis, for his part, is happily retired from the ring, helping develop boxers (including the current heavyweight champion) and organizing matches, while happily raising his young daughter (Mila Davis-Kent) with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson). ).
Still, he feels guilty about what happened to Damian and resists Bianca's pleas to talk about her story and what's gnawing at him.
Hoping to make amends, Adonis puts Damian to work as a sparring partner for the champion, though his old friend continues to crave the opportunity he was denied.
When circumstances derail a planned championship match, an opportunity presents itself, and the prospect of giving an unknown opportunity leads to comparisons to Apollo Creed's old trick with Rocky.
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Leading director Michael B. Jordan (left) takes on Jonathan Majors (right) in "Creed III."
(Credit: Eli Ade/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Adonis moves on, ignoring the objections of his former trainer and now partner, played by Wood Harris.
(Sylvester Stallone, for the first time, opted out of this film, although he is listed among the producers.)
"I've still got gas in the tank," Damian insists in response to Adonis's initial skepticism, and Majors—the highlight of the recent "Ant-Man" sequel—infuses the character with a quiet sense of menace and determination that proves fuel.
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While that construction makes a lot of sense ("Creed" director Ryan Coogler shares story credit with his brother, Keenan Coogler, and Zach Baylin), there's some flatness in the moments in between -- including the time spent on happiness. at Adonis's house- before getting down to business.
The same goes for the boxing sequences, which stumble a bit when Jordan tries to expand the roster by incorporating slow motion and a moment where the world fades away, leaving only the fighters fighting in a vacuum, an interesting device that ultimately it just didn't work.
Those considerations aside, the Jordan-Majors duo (a showdown between two top-notch Marvel villains) endows the film with great talent in more ways than one.
The challenge is that the durability of the "Rocky" franchise, which "Creed" has deftly tapped into in previous films, makes it just as hard to botch his more understated charms as it is to enhance or deflect from them.
"Creed III" offers enough appealing elements, old and new, to get away on some points.
However, those strengths are balanced by flaws that make such a judgment a rare sight in this winner-take-all world of boxing cinema: a split decision.
"Creed III" opens on March 3 in US theaters. It is rated PG-13.
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