Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Creed Adoption Foster Care Movie Review
Donnie Johnson is in trouble. The pre-teen is in a juvenile
hall and continues getting in trouble for fighting other boys. When a kind
woman takes him into her home, he begins to learn about his history; he never
met his father, but he finds it powerful to learn about him. Donnie grows into
a young man who follows in the footsteps of his father, a famous professional
boxer. All the while, Donnie struggles with what it means to have a father he
doesn’t know; he tries to create his own identity and wrestles with what it
means to inherit rather than create some of his identity.
The Adoption
Connection
SPOILERS AHEAD
This movie has lots of adoption relevance.
Donnie Johnson quickly learns that he is the son of Apollo
Creed, perhaps the greatest boxer in history, whose matches with Rocky were
legendary. Donnie did not know this for the first several years of his life,
and upon meeting someone who knew his father, quickly asks what his father’s
name was. Donnie was born after his father died; his mother is a woman with
whom Apollo had a brief affair. After Donnie’s mother died, he bounced around
the protective services system, and lived in foster homes and group homes.
Donnie is visited by Apollo’s widow Mary Anne. She offers to take him in, and
he accepts. She becomes a mother to him and raises him, although she
temporarily rejects him when he insists on leaving behind a good job in order
to pursue boxing.
Donnie struggles with what it means to have a father that he
never met. *SPOILER ALERT: He ultimately embraces his heritage and changes his
last name to his father’s last name. He is able to express that he is proud to
be a Creed. However, prior to this, he reacts negatively when people call him
by that last name. END SPOILER **
Donnie also finds a sense of family in Rocky; he begins to
call him “Uncle.”
Mary Anne tells Donnie, “You are your father’s son, and you’re
part of him, but it doesn’t mean you have to be him.”
Donnie leaves a life of privilege to pursue a life in line
with what he knows of his heritage.
Rocky suggests that, even though Donnie’s father died before
Donnie was born, Donnie is angry at his father for abandoning him, and that
Donnie needs to forgive him.
Many characters comment on the similarities between Donnie
and his father. One character refers to him as “the living embodiment” of his
father.
Strong Points
Mary Anne is a very loving mother to Donnie. She brings him
into her home, life, and heart. She is not scared away by his negative
behaviors, and empathizes with his sense of loss, “I’ve lost, too.”
Donnie initially tells Mary Anne, “I don’t have a father.”
She corrects him, noting that not having met his father does not mean that he did
not have one.
Donnie finds a sense of family from two people who knew his
father. By learning about his past, he found relationships to guide his future.
At one point, Rocky is asked, “Apollo Creed’s son looks at
you and says family?” Rocky responds, “I’m a lucky guy.”
One character asks Donnie what he would tell his father if
he met him. Donnie’s words convey a healthy acceptance of his history, heritage
and identity. **SPOILER ALERT: He says, “I
love him. He didn’t leave me on purpose. I’m proud to be a Creed. It’s
excellent. END SPOILER ***
Challenges
This is a movie about a boxer; there is some on-screen
bleeding and one unsettling injury.
*SPOILER ALERT – although Donnie considers Rocky an uncle, their relationship is strained. Rocky has received some harrowing news. In a moment of stress, he tells Donnie that they are not really family. Although Rocky immediately regrets what he says, it takes time to repair that relationship and Donnie accuses Rocky of “getting my real family killed.” END SPOILER **
One character faces a life-threatening illness. People who
have watched a loved one undergo a similar experience might find these scenes
hard to watch – however, the characters involved demonstrate courage and love
for each other.
Some characters comment on the fact that Donnie was conceived
of an affair, and refer to him as “an embarrassment” to the Creed family and a “mistake.”
He fights to correct this conception.
One character makes a very insensitive comment about Donnie’s
father being dead.
One character calls Donnie a “fake Creed.”
Weak Points
For a while, Mary Anne does not communicate with Donnie; he
continues to call her. This does feel a little like parental rejection, which
could be rough for some viewers.
Recommendations
I wasn’t expecting this – but Creed is one of the best
adoption-relevant movies of the year. Creed approaches issues of identity and
unmet parents with honesty and integrity while telling an inspiring story and
depicting very clearly that family is created where love exists. There is a sex
scene which earns the film its PG-13 rating, and the boxing violence is bloody,
but with parental guidance, most teenagers could enjoy and benefit from this
one. Strong recommendation.
Questions for
Discussion
How can relationships recover after hurtful words have been
said?
What makes a family a family?
What would you tell your first parents if you could?
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ReplyDeleteA number of us have cherished the Rocky Movies. These rousing motion pictures featuring Sylvestor Stallone recount the account of an underdog who at last makes it to the top. The motion pictures recount his ups and down at the end of the day how this champion ricochets back. Young of "Rocky" movies
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