What kind of man are you?

NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Friday, March 3rd.

Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your day.

Good morning. I’m Nick Eicher.

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: And I’m Myrna Brown.

Up next on The World and Everything in It, WORLD Arts and Culture Editor Collin Garbarino has an update on what’s happening at the movies.

COLLIN GARBARINIO: Last week, I said Jesus Revolution, the faith-based movie about the 1970s Jesus Movement, was worth heading to the theater for. A few people contacted me to say they saw it and enjoyed it. And they weren’t the only ones. Jesus Revolution earned a rare A+ CinemaScore from audiences on opening day.

It grossed almost 16 million dollars last weekend—that’s more than double what the studio expected. I’ve heard the average American visits the movie theater three times a year. Jesus Revolution is worth using one of those three visits.

But if you already saw Jesus Revolution last weekend, and you’re looking for something new to see in the theater, Creed III comes out today.

Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky came out way back in 1976. Who would have thought almost 47 years later, the franchise would still be going the distance? In Creed III, Michael B. Jordan steps back in the ring to take another swing at boxing glory. This time he not only returns as Apollo Creed’s son Adonis “Donnie” Creed, he also directs.

DONNIE: I spent the last seven years of my life living out my wildest dreams. Bianca, Rocky, my dad—this is built on their shoulders.

After starring in eight franchise films, Sylvester Stallone has bowed out, so don’t expect to see Rocky Balboa in Creed’s corner.

The movie begins with Donnie Creed retired from the ring and living in Los Angeles. The former champion now spends his time developing the next generation of boxing talent and enjoying life with his wife and daughter. But Donnie’s confidence in the future shatters when he’s confronted by a ghost from his past.

DONNIE: Hey, my man. Can I help you?

DAMIAN: Let me get your autograph?

DONNIE: Nah, I ain’t signing no autographs, but you can get off my car.

DAMIAN: You don’t remember me, huh?

DONNIE: Damian.

His childhood friend Damian, played by the astonishingly talented Jonathan Majors, has just got out of prison. Damian wants a shot at fulfilling his own dreams of boxing glory.

DONNIE: How long were you locked up?

DAMIAN: Eighteen years, bruh. Just got out last week.

DONNIE: Glad to have you back out, man.

DAMIAN: I know I’ve been away a long time, but I kept myself in shape. I got gas in the tank.

DONNIE: Come by the gym.

DAMIAN: Thank you.

Donnie suffers from guilt over his complicity in Damian’s incarceration. He feels obligated to help Damian. But their strained friendship takes a toll on both Donnie’s business and his family. Following the tried-and-true Rocky formula, they’ll have to settle their problems in the ring.

DAMIAN: You a coward, bro. And a fraud. Try spending half your life in a cell. Watching somebody else live your life. I’m just getting started, little brother. I’m coming for it all.

Creed III is rated PG-13 for sports violence and some rough language—some of that rough language shows up in the hip-hop soundtrack.

Stallone left the franchise because he doesn’t like the new direction. He said he wanted to keep the tone sentimental and didn’t want the hero to explore dark places. But the storyline between Donnie and Damian is actually the best part of the movie. The scenes possess an affecting honesty and depict a certain kind of masculine relationship.

It’s too bad the subplots involving Donnie’s family lack the same emotional punch

LITTLE DUKE: I need you to let go of your fear. Let go of the guilt. Let go of whatever was, and walk into what is.

The story follows the typical Rocky pattern—a problem, a training montage, and a championship boxing match. As for Rocky-verse films, I would put this one in the middle of the pack. The movie’s biggest flaw is that it fails to justify why Donnie needs to fight Damian at all.

STEPHEN A. SMITH: The one and only Adonis Creed. You the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world—three years ago. It’s been a minute since you been out in these streets.

DONNIE: When I walked away from boxing, I walked away with some unfinished business.

Creed III isn’t perfect, but it’s an entertaining movie with visceral fight scenes you won’t find in a superhero fantasy.

Despite Stallone’s concerns about the movie going too dark, Creed III has a certain kind of sentimentality to it. It’s an unapologetically masculine film about imperfect men trying to figure out how to live in a world that’s passing them by.

This movie doesn’t try to turn masculinity into a problem that needs to be solved. The issue is whether that masculinity will be used for noble ends. But really. All Rocky movies ask the same question: What kind of man are you going to be?

I’m Collin Garbarino.

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