'Creed II', Stallone's last as Rocky, is a heavyweight with a lot of heart

Age has caught up with the invincible Rocky Balboa. Cancer gets him on the ropes in the 2015 film, Creed, and young Adonis Creed, the son of his greatest competitor and close friend, Apollo, gives the old guard a new purpose. The film had the traits of a one-off, pound-for-pound boxing spectacle of the Rocky years that, while a smashing box office success, was impressive only for its few minutes in the ring. In its second instalment, Balboa is back on his feet and his prodigy, the young Creed, is stronger, better and faster. Creed II finally feels worthy of a series — the birth of a new legacy.

It’s the same old concoction though, clichéd even more by its choice of antagonist. When looking for an overpowering Joe Frazier to a speedster like Muhammad Ali in cinema, look no further than the Russians. Ask the Rocky fans, boxers from Moscow who are built like tanks, they fight for glory and are so single-minded that they appear brain dead in every other aspect. Twenty years after the Russian machine Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) killed Apollo (Carl Weathers) in the ring, only to be defeated later by Balboa in Rocky IV back in 1985, Drago’s prodigal son is back to reclaim his family’s honour.

Like his old man, Victor Drago, played by Florian “Big Nasty” Munteanu, doesn’t speak much — he just roars.  Munteanu looks even more menacing than the old Drago. And this one is expressive, too — especially when under pressure — and not just a Russian fighting doll.

Director Steven Caple Jr has payed attention to detail. Creed II has a lot more heart than its prequel. Even though it follows the formula of a humiliating loss followed by an improbable victory in the ring, the film at over two hours takes its time to introduce new characters and build on old ones. There is a better back story to the Dragos this time. Only If Caple Jr and writer Cheo Hodari Coker had spent a little more time empowering the villains, Drago’s character could have been as nuanced as Erik Killmonger, the antagonist played by Michael B Jordan in Black Panther.

Jordan, who plays the hero this time, is looking worthy of his heavyweight title, especially when he trains to defend his title in the climactic bout. He’s aggressive and pained, a lover and a fighter, like the Balboa of Rocky. He’s an actor worthy of a lead role but his character is still no match for Balboa — the slightly daft and lovable Italian Stallion behind Rocky’s iconic status. In Creed II, Balboa has aged like wine. He’s softer, wiser, lonelier. His daily conversations with his wife Adrian and best friend Paulie’s graves are not as moving but reminiscent of the old Rocky.

Tessa Thompson as Bianca, the singer suffering from progressive hearing loss, continues to add the necessary emotion and spunk to this series.  Creed II gets an all-star album featuring Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar.  The film’s music, the collaboration of Grammy-winner Mike WiLL Made-It and Ludwig Göransson uplifts the adrenaline-pumped character of the genre.

While the punches land hard and echo in the cheers of the audience, the dialogues don’t. Balboa’s charm has always been in saying simple things innocently, but the new champ, Creed, says nothing worth remembering. Boxing fans are suckers for understanding what motivates a fighter to endure the punishment, which is ill-explained through the film’s insipid writing.

But there’s enough flavour still for Rocky fans and their later generations to return ringside. Since Stallone has announced his exit from the series, it may just be the last chance to catch him on screen while a new rendition of Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” plays in the background.