"Creed III" -- ★ ★ ½ Already a champion movie star and A-list actor, Michael B. Jordan demonstrates great promise as a director with"Creed III," his feisty but flawed freshman effort behind the camera.
Painting the luxurious lifestyle of boxing's retired heavyweight champion of the world -- Adonis Creed -- as a perfect-picture postcard of wealth and domestic bliss runs contrary to the grittier, previous"Rocky" entries, but that's how"III" begins. Just when you think you might be watching a cloying episode of"The Ultra-Rich and Handsomely Famous," Adonis' past returns to haunt him in the form of his childhood bestie,"Dame" Damian , who has just been released from a long slog in the big house.Damian seems cordial and ingratiates himself to Adonis. But Damian quickly leverages guilt to manipulate his friend -- guilt stemming from a pivotal incident from their youth, recapped in flashbacks.
"Dame" Damian , who has just been released from prison, demands a shot at the world heavyweight championship in"Creed III." - Courtesy of MGM Instead of rooting for the true underdog -- here the downtrodden Damian -- we feel compelled to side with the wealthy, established, ego-driven champ. Oh, no! It's like cheering for Adonis' father Apollo from the original"Rocky.