Creed - B+

Rated PG-13, 132 minutes

Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone

The familiar but exhilarating, crowd-pleasing boxing drama "Creed" is a knockout. A spinoff of the "Rocky" films and will make you believe in the underdog again and remind you why film audiences have been enamored with Rocky's story since we were first introduced to him in 1976 and how he carried off the Oscar for Best Picture that year. Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavy weight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there's no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed's legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo - the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Directed and written by Ryan Coogler of "Fruitvale Station" fame, "Creed" returns Rocky and company to their former glory with this inspiring, gritty outing that finds them in a new era with some of the same challenges as before. Co-produced by Stallone with his original "Rocky" producers Irwin Winkler and the late Robert Chartoff, it helps that "Creed" finds its step with Coogler at the helm, as he brings a fresh perspective to this tale that needed some new energy, not to mention his engaging "Fruitvale Station" star Jordan, whose star should get a lot brighter after his winning turn as Apollo Creed's determined son, the son he never knew. Tessa Thompson as his love interest, Tony Bellew as his feared British rival and Phylicia Rashad as his mother figure all have good moments, though the movie's most compelling moments belong to the Italian Stallion himself, Sylvester Stallone, now an aged restaurant owner with grayer hair, a slower step and reading glasses. This was the role Stallone created and seemingly born to play and it finds him in his element (we'll just forget those stinky "Expendables" movies of late) though now in Mickey/Paulie mode, and it wouldn't surprise me if he garnered accolades for the role - some have even mentioned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination - and once you see the challenges Rocky has to face this time (illness) you might agree too. "Creed" has many calculated twists, turns and familiar montages that you'll likely predict before they appear all going on a little too long, but that fast-paced final act will take your breath away, and stay for the ending as Rocky climbs those steps one more time. "Creed" is a winner and most importantly, you'll feel good cheering for the underdog again.