The Current Cinema: Creed II (2018)

Directed by Steven Caple Jr. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Tess Thompson, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad, Dolph Lundgren. Released November 21, 2018. Running time 130 minutes.

There is a scene in "Creed II" where Rocky Balboa walks into his tavern to find Ivan Drago sitting quietly. Stallone looks at him and says, "Is it you?" It is a stunningly quiet scene, both Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren showing an economy of movement but with expressions that bleed with subtle nuance. It is an example of Stallone's realization that his older Rocky movies are enduring classics, and the nostalgia factor is a great part of the Creed films' success. This one was made for 50 million and grossed over 200 million.

Drago killed Apollo Creed in an exhibition match. Creed's son Adonis is challenged by Drago's son Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu) and insists on taking the fight as a way to avenge his father. The avuncular Rocky strongly advises against it. Therein lies the dramatic conflict. There are some distracting tangents regarding the relationship of Adonis and his girlfriend Bianca (Tessa Thompson), but their moments with Phylicia Rashad resonate well, the veteran actress anchoring these scenes. Ms. Thompson's reaction take when realizing she, Bianca, is pregnant is impressive in its conveying of both happiness and intimidation, a single tear welling up in one eye. Her character must also address progressive hearing loss, an element that adds another layer to the narrative.

Stallone has allowed the Rocky character to grow and age. Now past 70, actor Stallone realizes the continued pain a veteran boxer would feel. He still has some level of strength and power from his decades of training, but the pain causes a slowness and shuffling that limits his mobility. It is impressive how easily Stallone can slip back into this iconic role -- appearing slow-witted but possessing an innate wisdom. He also penned the script, so he not only re-introduces Drago and his son, but also Wood Harris as trainer Tony Evers, jr. the son of the character Tony Burton played in the original "Rocky" ("he doesn't know it's a damn show, he thinks it's a damn fight!).

Separating "Creed II" from the franchise and assessing it as a stand-alone film, one is first impressed with director Steven Caple Jr, who rises to the occasion of following Ryan Coogler, director of the first "Creed" (Coogler was busy with post-production on "Black Panther" and could not direct this film). The fight scenes are impressively choreographed, and the cutaways to Stallone's tense viewing of the first fight on TV, alone in his tavern, adds a further dimension to the dramatic impact.

It can be argued that "Creed II" is inferior to its immediate predecessor, but that's a trifling quibble. It's a strong drama, with hard action, and fine performances. Returning Dolph Lundgren and Brigitte Nielsen from "Rocky IV" adds further interest, especially when Lundgren's character is central to the narrative once again.

But perhaps the best thing about "Creed II" is that Sylvester Stallone is smart enough to maintain his iconic screen characters into old age and the 21st century by simply exploring further into how they'd confront the aging process. Rocky confronts it with the same aplomb as Stallone does himself.