Iron Man (2008)
Grade:A-
It’s hard to write a review of Iron Man without a little background about my viewing experiences with the film so far. I caught it opening night in a packed theater and had to sit with my viewing companion in the second row, our heads tipped back as far as possible to see as much of the impossibly large screen in front of us.
The crowd was pumped up, cheered numerous times during the film (and I heartily joined in) and applauded at the end of the film. I came out of the film thinking it was pretty great summer entertainment, though a little sluggish at the end.
Earlier this week, I saw the film again with a friend in the same theater. This time, there were a few dozen people, at most, and it was a late-night show, so we were all a little sleepy. I was still enthralled, but I wasn’t as moved to emotionally respond as before. I don’t know if it’s due to it being my second viewing (probably) or the crowd itself (possibly), but there was an energy missing, and the film’s flaws seemed to be a little more apparent.
With all that said, I stand by my initial reaction. It’s usually the best indicator of a film’s success anyway. The film is the story of billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), a weapons manufacturer kidnapped in Afghanistan and forced to recreate his most advanced missile for a terrorist group. Instead, he uses his workshop to create a suit of iron that can protect him as he escapes. Back in safety, he refines the suit in his expansive workshop and becomes Iron Man, ridding the world of evildoers.
It’s all pretty standard superhero stuff, right down to the female sidekick Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), the doubtful but supportive best friend Jim Rhodes (Terrance Howard), and the baddie who tries to beat the hero at his own game (Jeff Bridges as Stark’s company’s CEO Obadiah Stane).
What makes the film successful, mainly, and for lack of more elevated language, is that Iron Man kicks ass. A lot of ass. As Tony Stark refines the suit and tries different things out, discovering the ability to fly, we’re right there with him, sharing in the excitement and exhilaration. Credit Robert Downey, Jr. for delivering a fantastic performance as the cocksure and arrogant Tony Stark. He grounds his performance in a completely self-aware and self-deprecating sense of humor that enlivens otherwise dull scenes. Tony Stark, in Downey’s hands, oozes charm and charisma, and he’s great to watch on screen.
Also, if you’re going to cast great actors in all the roles, why not get Gwyneth Paltrow to play sidekick? She’s an interesting choice for a superhero movie, but like Robert Downey, Jr., the casting pays off. She brings so much depth and wit to Pepper Potts and manages to round out her character so elegantly and effortlessly that Pepper’s (mostly) platonic relationship with Downey, Jr. comes off as an incredibly natural one, not something manufactured for the sake of a subplot. Plus, it’s nice to see Paltrow having a little fun on screen.
As a superhero film, Iron Man is also successful where Spider-Man 2 was not: grounding the superhero in reality. Spider-Man 2 spent so much effort grounding its characters in reality when it probably would have been a lot more fun to just run with it and devote that energy to other endeavors. Superman Returns, for example, was as successful as it was precisely because it established its own universe so effectively and didn’t try to explain why Superman has his powers. He simply does. In Iron Man, the fact that the central superhero is literally man-made becomes the film’s greatest asset in terms of verisimilitude. Tony Stark is swiftly established as a brilliant mathematician and engineer, so it would only make sense that he could build the impressive suit of armor that he ultimately crafts for himself.
If the film is lacking at all, it’s on two main fronts. First, the film ultimately feels like an extended first act of a larger story. The film as a whole is an origins story. Now that Iron Man has been established so clearly, it’s exciting to see what the inevitable sequels will do with the character. My guess is that later films will be even better, but we’ll have to wait to see. The second issue is in the film’s conclusion that doesn’t quite deliver on a grand scale of action storytelling. When a clear nemesis for Iron Man materializes, the film seems to rush to a conclusion, and while the finale is certainly serviceable, it just doesn’t quite deliver in comparison to better action sequences we’ve seen before, like the airplane sequence in Superman Returns.
Regardless, these flaws were all overlooked as I walked out of the theater. It delivers on nearly all the fronts a great summer film should, providing a great sense of wit, some spectacular action, solid special effects while still showcasing some fine acting from the leads. It’s a great kickoff to the summer movie season.
Bottom Line:
Robert Downey, Jr. is perfectly cast as Iron Man, anchoring a superhero film that successfully grounds its story in reality while providing some dazzling effects and action sequences. Most importantly, though? It’s damn funny.
© 2004-2009 Ben Waldorf. Posted May 02, 2008. IMDB