“If
he dies, he dies,” says Ivan Drago coldly after watching an unconscious, mercilessly
beaten Apollo Creed lying in the arms of rival and best friend Rocky Balboa. It
was that day thirty years ago in 1985 that we saw former heavyweight champ
Apollo Creed fight his final bout before being called home. In the eyes of
many, that was the last time we would ever hear about the boxing legend. Then
came a young, hungry raw talent carrying the name of a Greek God and the blood
of the late Apollo.
Enter
Adonis Creed, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan in his second lead film role and
known by many as 16-year-old drug dealer “Wallace,” from hit HBO drama, The Wire. Along with a cast of veterans
such as Sylvester Stallone and Phylicia Rashad, professional boxers Tony Bellew and Andre Ward, and Tessa
Thompson, Jordan still manages to shine in the lead role as Apollo’s
illegitimate son. It all starts with the first name matching Jordan’s
noticeably ripped physique. A tribute to the discipline he shows in his craft
for bringing fictitious characters to life much the same as he did when he was
Vince Howard on Friday Night Lights.
Aside from Jordan’s
quality portrayal, the film scores well by giving a sense of reality and
legitimate human emotion to it. When Adonis decides to turn down a promotion at
a very steady job at a securities firm to pursue boxing full time, the decision
is met with much scrutiny by his boss and current legal guardian, Mary Anne
Creed, Apollo’s widow who agreed to take Adonis in 17 years earlier. As the
audience, we can feel her pain as we recall Apollo’s death and hear her speak
about the tough nights where she had to walk him up the stairs or bathe him
because he was too battered and bruised to do it himself. Against her wishes,
Adonis moves from Los Angeles to Philadelphia in search of Rocky to receive formal
training.
We’re
hit with reality once again as Adonis attempts to step out of his late father’s
shadow by taking on his late mother’s last name, Johnson. At one point, Rocky
suggests if Apollo were alive today, he would attempt to talk his son out of
taking on the life of a fighter. This parallels how the legendary Michael
Jordan has been vocal about not exactly wanting his kids to play basketball
because of the scrutiny they will face as a result of his legacy. Like most
kids, they played anyway, and so does Adonis. While carrying the Johnson name
works for a short amount of time, it isn’t long before a jealous trainer in the
Philly gym does some checking and finds out who Adonis really is.
When
he brings this to Rocky’s attention, Rocky pleads with him for confidentiality
that we all know won’t last long. When word finally gets out, and Adonis’s love
interest, Bianca discovers the full truth, she has mixed emotions. We also get
an ESPN connection as we see PTI cohosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser
discuss Apollo as if he were a real athlete. Adonis is confronted with the name
issue once again when the trainer for current champion “Pretty” Ricky Conlan
requests a fight but demands that Adonis go by Adonis “Hollywood” Creed for
better promotion. Adonis is hesitant at first but eventually gives in after the
love and motivation from Bianca convinces him that he has earned the right to
use the name and shouldn’t be as concerned about being in someone else’s
shadow.
Once he
comes to grips with the fact he cannot escape his father’s legacy, we see a
mentally renewed Adonis. One who is ready to live out his dream. One who is
ready to take on whatever challenges come his way both in and outside the ring.
We get to witness the final transformation of a young raw talent to a
professional fighter ready for the big time. Perhaps the most admirable trait
of Adonis is the willingness to trade in the big bucks and secure job in order
to pursue what’s in his heart. Something so many people, especially Americans,
want to do but either aren’t able to because of circumstances or lack the
courage to go forth in their journey. He represents someone who understands that
no matter how much money you make, it is all temporary and getting spent
eventually. But something that gives you a passionate feeling and stirs your
soul, that’s way more valuable than money.
We also
admire him for having the humility to recognize the need for formal training. While
his raw talent is undeniable, he is humble and smart enough to realize talent
alone won’t take him as far as he wants to go in the boxing world. For pursuing
his dream and remaining humble, Adonis becomes an onscreen hero who both
inspires and teaches us at the same time. We are inspired to pursue our
passions with all our hearts, and we are taught to never give up. Impossible is
merely a state of mind. While the Rocky series
has always been inspirational dating back to its original film in 1976, I must
say Creed takes the cake as the best
one. And for being the seventh one in line, that says quite a bit about this
film.
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