Another Saturday, another comic book movie, another attempt to see a favorite performer at any cost. That's my situation for "Iron Man", the latest "super hero" action flick that happens to star one of my favorite actors, Robert Downey Jr. So I once again find myself sitting through a big budget clunker, heavy on special f/x, head banger soundtrack and cartoon characters who manage to keep me mildly entertained while wondering if this is the true future of film. Yikes. The good news is this isn't just any old action hero we're talking about. Downey has somewhat of a character to play as rich playboy Tony Stark living large as head of a weapons manufacturing company with a loyal assistant Pepper Pots (Gwyneth Paltrow), a loyal personal military pilot Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) and a not so loyal second-in-command Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) to keep life humming along. Things change in a big way after Stark becomes a prisoner of war while visiting Afghanistan. Held captive by a group who plan to force him to build a weapon for them, Stark must use his considerable electronic skills to fashion an iron man suit of armor in order to escape from his captors. He returns to the States a transformed man, announcing, to the chagrin of Stane, that he is divesting his company of weapons. Of course he now secretly sets out to recreate a much more sophisticated, state of the art version of the crude iron suit to become the avenging "Iron Man", literally flying to spots around the world in order to destroy the weapons manufactured by his own company. At least the movie's heart is in the right place.
It's always a pleasure to watch Robert Downey Jr. and this movie is no exception. He's looking great, in top form and never disappoints me with his own brand of screen charisma. There's an excellent supporting cast as well, all of whom acquit themselves admirably. I especially liked the chemistry and dry, witty repartee between Downey and Paltrow. Also fun seeing Jeff Bridges again (it's been too long), almost unrecognizable with a bald head and white beard as the evil Stane, and Terrence Howard does a nice job with a somewhat throwaway character. Shaun Toub makes an impression in a small role as a man who assists Stark with the original iron suit during his captivity. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film strikes me as good of kind, but unfortunately it just isn't my kind. Judging from the boffo box office this movie has been generating there are many people who get a thrill watching a guy in an iron suit doing wheelies over the skies of Los Angeles. I'm just not one of them.
Things to love about this movie: Relationship and hint of romance between Downey & Paltrow
Things to hate about this movie: Why hide the fabulous face and form of a gifted actor behind a big old iron suit? Why is an American cheeseburger the only thing anyone seems to want after being held hostage?
Pleasant surprises: Favreau rewards the die hards (like me) who sit through all the end credits with a sequel teaser featuring Samuel L. Jackson
Unpleasant surprises: The heart saving hook-up Stark wears throughout most of the movie
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment