The film sees the illegitimate son of Rocky’s opponent Apollo Creed become a champion himself. Adonis’ journey in the ring isn’t over just yet and he becomes more confident in himself both as an athlete and as a man. He falls for upcoming singer/songwriter Bianca Porter (Tessa Thompson) and the two form an ever evolving relationship, even as they face obstacles in their careers. They also both develop an ever-deepening friendship with Rocky who acts as his trainer.
In Creed II, Adonis is a heavyweight champion, he and Bianca are settling into their relationship, and they have started to plan a family together. But old wounds are reopened when Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the Soviet boxer who killed his father Apollo in the ring back in 1985, challenges Adonis for his title.
Dolph Lundgren reprises his role as Captain Ivan Drago, Russia’s former prize champion who is famed for using steroids and advanced training to achieve a brute strength never before seen. He now lives in poverty in the Ukraine with his burly and ruthless son Viktor, whom he has been training to be a fierce fighter.
The movie, written and directed by Steven Caple Jr, is a confident sequel that ably takes all the boxing cliches in the world and presents them in a refreshing manner. Jordan gives a masterful performance and is joined by a strong cast that includes Stallone, Phylicia Rashad, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Dolph Lundgren.
