Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir

Dir. Jon Favreau
Scr. Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum & Matt Holloway (based on
Marvel characters)

As soon as AC/DC’s Back in Black assaulted my ears in the opening scene and Robert Downey Jr. eased into the snappy dialogue, I knew I was going to enjoy Iron Man. Sure, it requires you to suspend disbelief in a huge way. And, sure, it’s pretty darn violent. And, yeah okay, it’s not the most thought-provoking movie out there. But if you’re looking for laughs and sheer crash-bang-explosive entertainment, Iron Man is the film for you. As long as Downey Jr. is on board, I cannot wait for Iron Man 2.

Iron Man tells the story of Tony Stark, the head of multi-million dollar weapons producer Stark Industries. Stark is an engineering genius, with a weakness for women and scotch. The ultimate playboy, Stark is comfortable in the knowledge his weapons kill bad guys. When Stark is kidnapped in Afghanistan, he realises his weapons have fallen into some seriously dodgy hands and he is forced to build his newest, most destructive weapon for the enemy. Instead, Stark creates what will become his alter-ago – Iron Man.

Iron Man, both the superhero and the movie, looks astonishingly cool. This film is a gadget paradise and Stark’s home is packed with all the useful and unlikely technology I assume fills Bill Gates’s house. There are enough explosions to keep the most highly attention-deficit 12-year-old boy engaged. The special effects come pretty thick and fast, but in the high-tech world of Tony Stark and his creations, they don’t appear out of place or beyond belief.

By far the most engaging aspect of Iron Man is the dialogue and acting. And, specifically, Robert Downey Jr. Downey Jr. is, in my opinion, one of the finest actors of his generation and I’m extremely pleased to see him back in the saddle. 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was a treat. And in Iron Man, Downey Jr. doesn’t disappoint. He is immensely likeable (in a “loveable rogue” sort of way), extremely sharp and looking every inch the superhero. Downey Jr. had a large part to play in the writing process and it shows – earlier drafts of the script were reportedly lacking in the humour that Downey Jr. brought to the project. And thank goodness! A major problem with superhero movies is the holier-than-thou attitude – I’m sorry, I’d rather stick needles in my eyes than spend a day with Superman. Boring! Stark is not Mr Do-Right. In fact, quite the opposite. He is spurred into action only when faced with the very real and close up repercussions of his life’s work. And, even then, he kills when necessary and likes to blow things up. Downey Jr.’s Iron Man is much like Batman, but with a sense of humour. And this humour, much of it ad-libbed by Downey Jr., is what sets Iron Man apart.

Downey Jr. is supported by some really great acting. It’s refreshing to see Jeff Bridges (who plays Stark’s business partner Obadiah Stane) be a true bad guy. We’re so used to seeing Bridges play the “everyman” role. He’s clearly having fun in Iron Man and he’s a hoot. Terrence Howard (as Stark’s long time friend and top military contact Jim Rhodes) is excellent. And Gwyneth (as Stark’s assistant Pepper Potts) is, well, not objectionable. And that’s all I really ask of Gwyneth.

I thoroughly enjoyed Iron Man. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea – you know who you are, you snobby action-film haters … But its well worth the price of admission – you’ll be entertained, I promise.

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Tony Stark: Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?