Iron Man, the comic book, was born out of the Cold War; Iron Man, the movie, is burning hot!
This new film from Paramount has all the makings of a summer blockbuster. (And since it is the first movie of the summer season, it will have an easy time of it.) The film has a hero - albeit a reluctant one at first; a love sub-plot, a bad guy or two and incredible special effects.
"Iron Man" tells the story of genius inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) who inherited his father's weapons manufacturing empire. The young playboy only thinks he has control of the vast multi-national corporation. In reality, it is right hand man Obidiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), who helped Stark's father create the company years earlier.
Without a care in the world, Stark is habitually late and always arrogant. That is until a weapons demonstration goes bad and Stark is kidnapped by a ruthless Afghan warlord. Stark is forced to use his expertise to build the warlord a great weapon of destruction. Faced with sure death, whether helping or not, Start creates a way to escape: a suit of armor. He is literally transformed into a man of iron scrap metal; an iron man.
Upon returning to the U.S. and his company, Stark is confronted with the philosophy of Stark Industries and his new found conscious. Ultimately, he decides to right the wrongs done by the weapons of Stark Industries. Of course, Stane doesn't like the new direction and takes steps to lock Stark out of the process. The climatic scenes pit Stark's new caring consciousness against the excess and indifference of the past. Stark vs. Stane is a battle of "Iron Men."
And you will love the surprise ending!
Robert Downey, Jr. was a surprise choice to portray Stark but he has embodied the playboy industrialist genius persona. He views the world as his playground and his reputation precedes him. The transformation to honorable hero is a believable one. Stark has an epiphany and the ambivalence is replaced with steel nerve to do the right thing.
Stark even tells personal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwenyth Paltrow), "I finally know what I should be doing." Downey, Jr. plays the change well as the audience follows his lead.
The film has an ensemble cast which complements the story. After Stark, no one actor has a huge part. The other major characters, Stane, Potts and Stark's best friend, James Rhodes (played aptly by Terrence Howard) aren't on the screen much but that's okay. When they are, each actor moves the story along.
Paltrow is strong as Stark's 'Girl Friday.' She has a strength about her which shows in her loyalty and concern for Stark, both professionally and personally. Bridges is passable as the true "villain" of the movie. His fained concern for Stark is hollow but you don't understand why until the end. Bridges has played so many "good guys," it's hard to visualize him as the "bad" guy. His designer suits make him a well dressed villain but there's not much motivation apparent. He'll do because Stark is the real story.
Howard does an understated job as the military attaché who doubles as Stark's long time confidant. And this is good; the quiet Rhodes is a match to the flamboyant Stark. It is more evident as priorities change and their friendship deepens.
A case can be made for the special effects being the real star of the show. From the crude first armor to the third 'state of the art' version, the computer geniuses have outdone themselves. The fight and flight scenes look realistic, too. A rare view from Stark's point of view is also included during one of the armor scenes.
The settings are well done. The desert scenes and scenes of southern California are right on. The various systems and "toys" of Stark are firmly in the "cool" category.
One final word about the dialogue and pacing: The script is full of humor and witty banter. Thee are some classic gags and don't miss the cameo by "Iron Man" comic book creator, Stan Lee, who has a small part in all Marvel movies.
Iron Man will stand the test of time. Sequels will follow. And for the first movie of the summer season, Ol' Shellhead dazzles!
