IRON MAN MOVIE REVIEW
Superhero movies are supposed to be fun. I’ve got to remember that when reviewing them. I’ve got to remember not to be a stuffy critic, an “elitist” (such a popular term nowadays) who points out plot holes, artistic and creative inconsistencies, ie overall ridiculousness that is inherent in a film about a superhero. Rather, how does it compare to other and recent superhero films? Do I completely stop paying attention when the digital special effects look like a video game? In other words, I shouldn’t be thinking about Antonioni when watching a superhero film, or perhaps even Apatow. No, the bar must be set differently. And so, with that in mind, “Iron Man” is passable to good, but not much beyond that.
I know, I know, it’s the best reviewed superhero film of all time, Robert Downey Jr. is wonderful, blah blah blah. But, having seen it less than 24 hours ago, much of it has drifted from my mind, not the best sign. I’ve forgotten. Perhaps the most important barometer to a superhero film; will I see it again? In my case, it’s hard to ever get that rating. My view is that with so many wonderful films out their, past present and future, I rarely go for the double dose right off the bat. But, despite initial positive reviews and huge box office, the true story on “Iron Man” will be if it’s repeat business makes it legendary. Already with a sequel in the works, I should work around to the film. Downey Jr. is Tony Starks, a billionaire inventor genius playboy heir of Starks Enterprises. He and his company conceive, create, and sell weapons. His father was instrumental in the creation of the A-Bomb. Tony has taken things to another level, both with his genius and his outlandish Hugh Hefner lifestyle. So there are plenty of toys in and around his gazillion dollar on a cliff Malibu beach house. And many a woman has been bedded down by the quick eyed devil may care Starks, who never thinks twice about the ramifications of creating and selling weapons until he is taken hostage in an Afghanistan cave only to realize that gasp! Some of his weapons fall sometimes into the wrong hands. You know, the terrorist guys. Turns out they have all sorts of weapons freshly painted with the Starks Enterprise logo. Tony escapes this conundrum by improbably creating the “Iron Man” suit and killing half the captors, leaving the rest surely for later.
Back in the states, Tony has had an epiphany and announces that Starks enterprises is no longer selling weapons until he can figure things out. This shocks the stockholders (53 dollar drop) and his business partner, pops’ long-time friend as well, Obediah (Jeff Bridges looks good with this beard and bic head bit). Then there is the burgeoning romance with his longtime long suffering assistant Pepper (Gwenyth Paltrow). You see, it turns out that though old Iron Man has everything in the way of smarts, looks, money, he has no friends, save Pepper, his robots, and Terence Howard.
Jon Favreau directs and cleverly cameos as his chauffer. Isn’t a director like a chauffer, driving the big expensive boat that is the superhero movie? Or is that the assistant director? Marvel films seem to have a similar look, not a bad one, and the visuals, like in other Marvel films, are thankfully not Michael Bay headache inducing. But the plot, fun and silly in the first half, devolves into ridiculous in the second, with a strange enough and common enough message of a great and benevolent super power (the US, Tony, the Government) steered momentarily off course by a single baddie.
Story: Starts out great, gets worse. C
Acting: Pretty solid B
Visuals: Pretty good since I expect so little from such an expensive film. I like the Marvel look. B.
Originality/Innovation: I halfway like the updated Afghan Terrorist origin story, but I halfway don’t.
Enjoyability: Tony Starks is a lot of fun…the ridiculousness of the films last half hour isn’t. B
Overall Grade: B
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