The secret to revitalizing a franchise lies in 'Creed'

Michael B. Jordan enters the ring in 2015’s “Creed.” (MGM/MovieStillsDB.com)

Every week, Ultimate Movie Year looks back into the past to highlight the best film that came out that weekend.

"Creed"
Released Nov. 25, 2015
Directed by Ryan Coogler

There must have been something in the water in 2015, as that year was marked by the revival of several long-dormant franchises retooled for a new generation. Some faired well ("Mad Max: Fury Road," "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"), others less so ("Jurassic World," "Fantastic Four").

And then there was "Creed."

The seventh film in the long-running Rocky franchise, one would think that a series of movies about an underdog athlete would have been well past its expiration date 10 years after the original in 1976, much less 40 years. How many times can you tell the same story? The first "Rocky" was an audience and critical favorite upon release, earning the Academy Award for Best Picture and launching the career of its star Sylvester Stallone. As Stallone became one of the biggest movie stars of the 80s, his persona (and physique) threatened to overwhelm the Rocky character's original charm and empathy. After all, it's harder to root for an underdog who consistently wins the final fight and gets progressively better looking and successful with each installment. By the time Stallone agreed to "Rocky V," he had taken the boxer back to his roots by having the character deal with brain damage and bankruptcy. By that point, audiences were ready to throw in the towel on a franchise that was already the subject of pop culture satire.

In 2006, Stallone, whose star power had also waned over the previous decade, stepped back into the ring for "Rocky Balboa," a surprisingly moving picture about an aging, lonely man looking for one more fight to satisfy his hunger. The Rocky franchise has always been at its best when its star and feature character are aligned in their lives and goals, and that's true for this film. Rocky's impassioned speech to his son, "It ain't about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward," is a series highlight. "Rocky Balboa" served as a beautiful sendoff for one of cinema's most beloved and iconic characters, and, one would think, there was nothing else to say after that.

Enter Ryan Coogler. The young director made an impressive debut feature film, "Fruitville Station," in 2013. A compelling drama about the last day of Oscar Grant, a young black man who was shot and killed by a police officer at a subway station in 2009, Coogler crafted a multi-dimensional character portrait that expressed honesty and empathy. Grant was brought to life by Michael B. Jordan, a talented rising actor who earned notice for his performances in acclaimed ensemble television dramas like "The Wire" and "Friday Night Lights."

For his second picture, Coogler had an idea for another Rocky sequel but now focused on the son of Apollo Creed, Rocky's original opponent, played by Carl Weathers. Jordan would play the son, Adonis, and Stallone would return to train the young boxer for a championship bout.

The basic plot of "Creed" echoes much of the original story from "Rocky," and as mentioned, the film wasn't the only reboot sequel that committed this crime upon its release. However, ultimately, you can't just do more of the same and expect to make an impression on audiences, because their interest will subside when they remember the original version was better. "Creed" resonates because of two key factors: the visually stunning and immersive filmmaking of Coogler, and a superstar leading performance by Jordan. Like Adonis and Rocky in the movie, Coogler and Jordan are artists who believe in each other to elevate their collaboration. Again, the creators and characters are aligned in their lives and goals.

One of the keys that set "Creed" apart from the rest of this franchise and others is Coogler's vision and voice as a black director. There is some controversy that the original "Rocky" subconsciously diminishes a successful, charismatic black champion, said to be inspired by Muhammad Ali, in favor of a white boxer to appeal to a broader audience. Coogler reframes the Rocky franchise by centering it on a black man with a skillful baton handoff that established a new hero who appealed to all audiences. He couched something new within the familiar.

Born as a result of an extramarital affair, Adonis is adopted as a young boy by his father's widow, Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), after falling into the juvenile detention system. When we next see Adonis as an adult, he seems to be living a relatively affluent lifestyle, but he leaves it behind to further his training as a fighter. Adonis is met with disapproval from his family and associates (including the son of Apollo's trainer), so he heads to Philadelphia, where no one knows him to escape the shadow of his father.

As a character, Adonis is a complex adult man who defies cinematic shorthand. His legacy as a Creed means he has some privilege because of the kind of financial security that would satisfy many, subverting both the lazy characterization of young black men in film as well as Rocky's original status as a loan shark enforcer. While Adonis does have some issues regarding his father he's trying to resolve throughout the film, he is a well-adjusted adult, determined and engaging. Much of that is on the page of Coogler's script with Aaron Covington, but it's all elevated through the performance of Jordan. He has a natural charisma that makes him empathetic, even while he expresses a wide range of emotions. His exuberance at the end of the traditional training montage (envisioned by Coogler with slow motion and a new soundtrack) keeps the audience soaring with the hero. It's impossible to root against Adonis because Jordan elevates himself to superstar status with this movie.

Beyond its hero, the film blended the traditional Rocky motifs with new black influences and culture. The score by Ludwig Goransson uses the brass and horns heard throughout the iconic Bill Conte themes with Rap and R&B musicians like Meek Hill, Donald Glover, Future, and more. Actress Tessa Thompson, whose "Creed" character Bianca begins a relationship with Adonis, helped write and perform several original songs as well to correspond with her character's development as a singer and songwriter.

All told, Coogler and company take a formula that seemed tired, only to revitalize the franchise with a new viewpoint and star. Since the trend of endless franchise sequels doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon, studios should turn to filmmakers with a unique vision to attract audiences, because more of the same only produces diminishing returns. Future "Creed" movies may also exhaust the potential shown here, but at least for one shining moment in 2015, Coogler proved that it wasn't a mistake.

The Weekend: Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the prime movie weekends of the year, and historically, there are several beloved classics, including "Rocky IV" in 1985 and "Creed II" in 2018.

After years of writing and directing movies featuring teenagers, John Hughes turned to two of the best comedians on film, Steve Martin and John Candy, for the holiday travel nightmare comedy "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," released back in 1987. Three years later, an adaptation of the Stephen King thriller "Misery" debuted on Thanksgiving weekend in 1990, and also earned Kathy Bates an Academy Award for her role as the villainous Annie Bates.

Two other pictures from that period proved that a star-driven film with a good hook was a winning formula in the 90s. Kevin Costner, then at the height of his stardom, connected with singer Whitney Houston for the romance-drama "The Bodyguard," debuting in 1992. The following year, Robin Williams donned a dress and wig for the cross-dressing family comedy "Mrs. Doubtfire" in 1993.

In 2016, Disney released what I believe to be its best animated movie of the modern era of computer-animated, "Moana." The film is a winning and inspirational story of a young Polynesian girl venturing forth into the ocean to save her village, with a top-notch soundtrack.

Next Week: “Ocean’s Eleven”

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