A strong directorial debut from Michael B Jordan, engrossed in an intimate reunion story scaled up to the rafters through an unravelling revenge plot. Genuine chemistry between interactions, especially with the duality of Johnathan Majors’ portrayal and incredible performance that sets the stage for more than a championship belt for the taking, but a life owed that Adonis had been so disciplined in building for himself.
Tessa Thompson takes ringside this time around, but is as important to her part in the story with much more nuance and sweetness rounding off the edges she had in the previous entries. Their daughter and the hereditary effects of hearing loss, completely affects her child, enabling patient and sweet interactions between the multiple characters that become warmer in her presence, providing a delicate representation that is increasingly becoming prominent (as it should).
The fights are powerful and bring a might that has always succeeded in the franchise, stripped back from the overdone, lengthy bouts for more montage and symbolic setups that do more to harness the power of the emotional tether connecting Adonis and Damian’s past and fight for a future with creative flourishes and a pace that doesn’t stay past its welcome, efficiently succinct, but powerful with each punch not pulled.
4/5
Weslar 