Creed

This movie has elements that are terrific, no question, but it disappoints, too. But it's still well worth seeing, if only to witness how Rocky's cinematic and boxing legacy continues. First, the good stuff: Decades after the first Rocky hit the big screen, the pull of the franchise endures. When Stallone makes his first appearance, it's hard not to root for him. We've known this character for years, and there's something fundamentally appealing about him.

Adonis, meanwhile, is much more complicated and -- at least in the way Creed unfurls his story -- not as accessible (this despite Jordan turning in an outstanding performance). As he's written, Adonis isn't as complexly rendered as he deserves; we don't get to know him as deeply as we did Rocky, and therefore we aren't as invested in him as we should be. He comes alive when he's in the ring, as the star of a Rocky movie should (though nostalgia buffs will wish they'd hear more of the iconic theme song), thanks to fight choreography that taps into both the balletic and brutal elements of the punishing sport. But Adonis also needs to be compelling away from the ropes. A hero's journey deserves a hero who's mesmerizing; through no fault of the talented Jordan, Adonis still stands in the shadow of Rocky Balboa. But perhaps our standards have been raised too high by a classic that, though schmaltzy, maintains its place in the heart of filmgoers who grew up on these films?