Rocky roars back, so believe in ‘Creed’

When Rocky gives Adonis a written list of training routines, Adonis snaps a shot on his iPhone and waves away the paper, saying it’s safely on “the cloud.” Rocky stares skyward: “The cloud?” Stallone plays it just right; like much here, it could be hokey, but it’s not.

Of course, being a Rocky movie, it all comes down to a climactic fight. The opponent is a tough British champion, “Pretty” Ricky Conlan ( real- life Anthony Bellew).

But the British camp poses a condition: Adonis needs to use the Creed name. It’s Adonis’ new musician girlfriend (an appealing Tessa Thompson) who convinces Donnie, as she calls him, that he can. “Take the name,” she says. “It’s yours.”

There’s still the matter of getting in shape. As Adonis and Rocky begin training, an unexpected chal-

champion lenge comes in the form of a serious health scare for the older man.

But back to that fight: If the finale in a Rocky movie isn’t gangbusters, you’re sunk, and Coogler (who co-wrote the screenplay) saves his best moves for last, staging a fight (kudos also to cinematographer Maryse Alberti) that should have you on the edge of your seat – even though you know, already, that there’s no way Adonis is going to go gently into that good night.

Jordan deserved a good movie after the terrible Fantastic Four, and he gets one here.

Stallone gives a moving turn as a fading legend with one last big fight in him. ( Or will there be more?) Together with Coogler, you could say this trio knocks it outta the ring. – ANA-AP

● Creed is out in cinemas on Friday.