Directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) and starring Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station; Fantastic Four; The Wire (tv series)), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Rambo, Cliffhanger, The Expendables), Tessa Thompson (Selma, South Dakota, When a Stranger Calls) and Tony Bellew (a professional boxer in his first film role).
Sports drama, 133 mins, 12+
The opening scenes set the story: in 1998 in Los Angeles, young Adonis is rescued from juvenile detention by his father's wife (we learn his father, who has a relationship with another woman, died in the ring before he was born). He takes after his father, a highly-successful professional boxer, and gets into fights regularly. Fast-forward to 2015 and he (now played by Michael B. Jordan) has just earned a promotion at a finance house and seems set. However, on the side, he boxes in Mexico at week-ends. He quits his job, moves to Philadelphia and searches out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a former friend of his father, whom he wants as a trainer. The problem is that Rocky is comfortable away from the ring, running his own restaurant...
A Rocky sequel, and a much better-made film. The tension ebbs and flows, both in the build-up to fights and in the ring. The editing and the soundtrack really help glue all the components together, with some nostalgic throw-backs added in for good measure. Far from being cheesy, these are kept to a limit, and the temptation to use the Rocky soundtrack was largely resisted.
Very gritty, its shows the determination of the young man and his desire to succeed, as well as fighting for other things too, including his relationship with Rocky Balboa - who is too old now to get back in the ring - and his girl-friend Bianca (Tessa Thompson). Rocky conditions and fine-tunes Adonis and works on his temperment too, but the film does not dwell on this aspect too much. What is compelling is the on-screen relationship between master and student, with both Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone excelling in this department.
If you're not a fan of boxing, this may not be your thing, but there are just 3 fights featured in total. If you are, the fight scenes are extremely well done and are authentic by using real boxers as actors, not actors who could be taught to box. Arguably one of the best sports dramas on the big screen.
