Even though there are several problems with the movie, Iron Man starts the summer movie season on a good note. The movie begins with the likable but somewhat alcoholic Tony Stark(Robert Downey Jr) in a military convoy. We find out not only is he a celebrity but he’s also witty. The convoy gets attacked and all hell breaks loose. The rebels kidnap Stark and tells him to build one of his latest invention, a missile called Jericho. But as we all know he builds a metal armor and Iron Man is created.
Director, Jon Favreau (Elf, Zathura) gives Tony Stark a time to breathe on screen. This movie wouldn’t have worked at all if the main character was dull. Stark is a billionaire with the coolest gadgets, a playboy and has all the connections. Yes, he sounds like my favorite superhero, Bruce Wayne. With Bruce Wayne you don’t really want to hang out with him because he’s always depressed. With Stark, he’s always having a good time and you just want to party with him.
Favreau also takes his time showing Stark perfect his suit. These scenes make it possible to root for Stark because of the great CGI. The special effects are comparable to Transformers. It’s pretty seamless(unlike the horrible CGI in I Am Legend.) and when Iron Man is flying against F-22’s, it’s believable. The action scenes are also exciting. There’s no slapstick action, when Iron Man backhands his enemies, they violently fly back 20 feet.
Even though most of the movie is well thought out, there are 3 major problems with the movie: the characters played by Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges and the final act of the movie. Paltrow plays Pepper Potts, Stark’s personal assistant and love interest. Her acting is definitely inconsistent. When she’s with Robert Downey Jr., her acting is decent but when it she’s by herself, the acting becomes horrible(reshoot perhaps?). Jeff Bridges acting is decent but it’s his character as Obadiah Stane, Stark’s business partner that bugged me. His actions seemed like lazy scriptwriting, as if the writers didn’t know where to go after Iron Man was built. The final act of the movie comes to a screeching halt because these two characters are involved and there’s not enough exciting moments.
Even with the problems, this movie is definitely worth watching on the big screen. It’s entertaining, carried by Downey’s charisma and performance and great CG to boot. It’s no Fantastic Four (sequel as well) and that’s a good thing.
Grade: B
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