The Creed franchise is generally regarded as more serious than the Rocky saga, yet Creed III is thankfully proving that the sequel spin-off can be just as ridiculous as its forebear. After successfully reinvigorating the boxing juggernaut, the Michael B. Jordan-led series has gone from strength to strength. Showcasing a grittier, more down-to-earth style than Rocky (especially when compared to later installments), Creed's occasionally self-serious tone was arguably necessary in order to make the wider franchise respectable again. However, as has been demonstrated by the Creed III trailer, the series is not above occasional tongue-in-cheek moments.
In contrast to Creed, which has often focused on heavy subjects, the original Rocky series regularly strayed into ludicrously lovable camp. For instance, even though Rocky IV boasted one of the saga's most prominent deaths (and provided the spark for the entire Creed series), it's still difficult to take Drago's training montage – complete with stony-faced soviet instructors – overly seriously. Likewise, the inclusion of Paulie's inherently ridiculous robot in the same movie somewhat undermined the emotional resonance of Apollo Creed's death. For a while, it seemed like Creed had deliberately avoided including such silly elements. However, the Creed III trailer proves that the spin-off never truly forgot its origins.
Creed 3's Training Montages Prove It's Still Silly Like Rocky
As has become almost traditional for any Creed or Rocky movie, Creed III has a prominent role for a training montage. The sequences have become such a staple for the franchise that they have reached the point of parody – memorably receiving an explicit reference in Team America: World Police. However, there is a fine line between a montage scene highlighting the seriousness of the task ahead and tipping over into a sly wink at the audience, acknowledging the patent ridiculousness of the situation. As the trailer demonstrates, Creed III is committing to the latter.
Over the course of the footage, Michael B. Jordan's Donny Creed is seen pulling a plane across a runway, punching a tree, and yelling at himself on top of a mountain. While on one level, these scenes serve to demonstrate Donny's physical prowess and emotional frailty, there's no doubt that they are also inherently silly. After all, even eccentric two-time world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is yet to kick off his bout preparation by dragging a light aircraft. As such, including these moments is an explicit callback to some of the Rocky series' sillier impulses, reminding audiences that – despite Creed's self-serious tone – there's always a place for being over the top.
Why It's Good Creed 3 Isn't Too Serious
While it could be argued that moments like the plane drag undermine Creed's overall tone, it's actually good that the movie isn't overly serious. For a sports drama like Creed III, where emotional resonance is just as important as physicality, it's vital that the audience remains invested in the protagonist and the wider story. Part of what made Rocky so successful was that the series' more light-hearted moments helped the characters grow and become more relatable. Were Creed to play everything straight-faced, there's a danger that the movies would stop becoming interesting and instead become inadvertently amusing.
Given the clear relationship between Creed and Rocky, it's also vital that the Creed series remains true to its origins. While filming styles and audience sensibilities have evolved, the role of the Rocky movies in laying a platform for Creed to thrive is impossible to understate. By including some more lighthearted and self-aware moments, Creed can effectively acknowledge where it's come from while building a positive future for the franchise. It might be subtle, but not taking itself too seriously is a great way to recognize Rocky's continuing influence.
