Iron Man (2008)
May 14th 2010 10:24
Iron Man Promotional Poster - image sourced from google.com
With Iron Man 2 now hitting cinema's around the world I thought it was time to bring myself up to speed with the life and love of billionaire industrialist, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr).
Directed by Jon Favreau and written by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, this 2008 action comedy staring Robert Downey Jr in the title role is the first time the Marvel ledgend Iron Man has made it to the silver screen.
Abducted by warlords in Afghanistan, Stark comes to realise the weapons he makes aren't all designed to protect peace. Held captive, he builds - out of scraps very much like 80's tv hero Mcgyver - the protoype for the Iron Man costume.
Fighting his way to freedom single-handedly he is rescued by the American Army and brought home to his ever faithful secretary Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and he's relieved business partner, Obadiah Stane (a shaven headed Jeff Bridges).
Announcing the end of weapon construction, Stark retreats to his technological advanced Malibu mansion and sets about creating the final Iron Man costume, determined to protect the world from those who would misuse the weapons he's produced.
The film is an easy view. There isn't any hidden meaning, no subtle underlying theme that you'll still be trying to figure out in a week or two. It's an unapologetic action comedy.
My only fault with the film was the under-use of the cast, and the cardboard cutout characters. From the second you see Jeff Bridges on screen you are reminded of Jafar from Aladdin. You know he's the bad guy, and while they don't come out and say it, you assume he is responsible for the death of Stark's parents.
Gwyneth Paltrow, as the every faithful secretary, feels tacked into a boys own adventure. While I'm not the biggest fan of hers, she was very much under-used in a role that could easily have dialed in from home. During the showdown, she stands about, chewing her bottom lip, and waiting to be saved. It's not the sort of character I would have expected her to play.
Terrance Howard was great in the role of Starks friend, Rhodey, and there's a scene as Iron Man is jetting off to save the day, where he looks at a freshly built suit and says "next time". I hope so. His character has a lot of room to develop and grow and he was a great foil for Downey Jr's self obsessed Stark.
This film seems to have been simply the set up. It's laid some fantastic foundations for the upcoming sequel. If nothing else it has some pretty spectacular visual effects to compete with. Watching Iron Man fly through the sky, or catch a Land Rover was quite good and well worth the cost of the film.
Tony Stark tries out the Iron Man Costume - image sourced from google.com
Paul Bettany as the voice of Starks computer Jarvis, was fantastic. It takes an extremely talented actor to upstage Downey Jr with just his voice alone, but there are several scenes were Bettany does just that.
Iron Man 2 is currently playing in Australia and Iron Man is available on DVD.
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