Director Ryan Coogler’s “Creed” turned out to be a hit both at the box office and with critics and fans of the series. It had an old-fashioned, classic “Rocky” movie feel to it but with a more contemporary style of filmmaking applied. It was bombastic and grandiose, yet the most intimate the series has been since the first entry, dealing with complex fights within the characters’ own minds, not just focusing on the ring. Overall, it dusted off the gloves and showed that what made the series so great in the ’70s cannot only still work today, but also will continue to work for decades to come.

Once the film was a hit, like most good things, a sequel was announced, and Coogler could not take the reins, as he was off doing another small indie film that absolutely no one saw, Marvel’s “Black Panther.” So now, director Steven Caple Jr. will also get the Coogler treatment of going from low budget with his first feature, “The Land,” to big budget with “Creed II.” Does the film capture the same magic as the first? Absolutely.

Thoroughly entertaining, emotionally stirring and relentless, “Creed II” fires on all cylinders with each punch it throws and does not let up till the credits roll. The film revolves around the big, bad Russian from “Rocky IV,” Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren, “Black Water”), who infamously killed Adonis’ father and Rocky’s friend, Apollo Creed, in the ring. After having lost everything after his fight with Rocky 33 years ago, he is back stateside to challenge our two heroes, and this time, he is bringing his own big, bad Russian, his son Viktor, played by Romanian boxer Florian Munteanu.

Michael B. Jordan (“Black Panther”) turns in one of his best performances to date, nailing the complex dimensions of Adonis and his struggles with identity and responsibility, and Sylvester Stallone is to Rocky what Anthony Hopkins is to Hannibal: a match made in heaven. These two have terrific chemistry, and each are given their own arc that provide closure to the stories left off in the first film. Though audiences knew these two would be terrific, it is both Ivan and Viktor Drago that make the biggest shock in this film. The duo is ferocious, with enough humanity to keep this ship from sailing into “Rocky IV” territory.

Because that film worked in the ’80s, it existed in a time where the “Rocky” series was going through an identity crisis, bouncing back and forth from Oscar-worthy drama to beat-em-up montage-music video-fest. The “Creed” films, however, have a very clear objective to keeping things grounded, so going back to that particular well for story points could have been detrimental to the series. Caple Jr. is a master director and brought humanity to the Dragos, examining Ivan as a tragic figure following “Rocky IV” and Viktor as the loyal son who only knows fighting, and to “Rocky IV” as a whole.

Because it is a sequel, the film is by no means as innovative and original as its predecessor and settles for a more formulaic route. This film’s overall plot is as if “Rocky II” had a kid with “Rocky III,” with the backdrop of “Rocky IV,” and had the emotional baggage of “Rocky Balboa” and “Creed.” Yet, it works. In fact, because of this, the film exceeds its predecessor in rewatchability and enjoyment factor. While there is no one-take fight this time around, during the many fight sequences, Caple Jr. keeps the camera moving within the ring, placing the audience in Adonis’ shoes, being all alone in a small area, facing a literal mountain of a man and having to somehow come out on top. When he gets hurt, the audience gets hurt, and when he cries, the audience cries, making this entire ride that much more enthralling.

“Creed II” may be a tad formulaic, but it pieces the puzzle of previous “Rocky” plots together in such a way where it does not feel predictable. “Creed” may be more well-made, but this sequel has higher stakes, a true, complex antagonist and themes of dealing with the past, one’s legacy, what it means to be a fighter and self-worth that bursts through the seams of each opponent’s gloves. This film is a worthy addition to the “Rocky” series, providing both nostalgia and closure to the past of “Rocky IV,” as well as tying up loose ends while opening doors for new beginnings.

Image from MGM via YouTube