Iron Man is getting amazing reviews and is well on its way to being a huge hit.  I enjoyed the film but I do think its a tad overrated by the basement dwellers.  Robert Downey Jr is terrific though.  He’s the major reason to see the film.  As the flamboyant Tony Stark, he somehow makes a “merchant of death” who discards women like empty boxes of tissues, a likable cad.  He makes Stark’s improbable turn from playboy billionaire to superhero seem much more natural than a lesser actor would.  He’s surrounded by some good supporting actors, I especially liked his snappy banter with a much more lively than usual Gwyneth Paltrow.  The major flaws in Iron Man are a lackluster villain (who stands around and sneers) and a protracted ending that felt like warmed over Transformers.  Jon Favreau isn’t in the same league of action director that Christopher Nolan or even Michael Bay is, and the final fight was disjointed, dark, and at times, hard to follow, where Transformers final battle was crisp and seamless.  The effects in Iron Man are very good though.  Favreau just needs to work on his action. 

Iron Man involves a callow billionaire/weapons manufacturer named Tony Stark who is taken hostage by sinister terrorists and learns that they are using the very weapons his company created to wage their war of terror.  Stark escapes using a crude metal suit and decides to help protect the people with a modified suit and destroy his weapons.  Stark also decides to stop manufacturing weapons, which puts him at odds with Obidah Stane (Jeff Bridges, who stands around and sneers a lot), his longtime business partner.  Stark also gets help from his longtime assistant Pepper Potts (played in engaging fashion by Paltrow), and a military associate and friend played by Terrance Howard in his quest to become a superhero. 

Iron Man is engaging, funny, and entertaining.  It’s a must see for fans of the comics and newcomers alike.  The major flaw for me was that the villain just wasn’t anywhere as memorable as the villains in some of the best comic book films of all time.  This is the 3rd or 4th best Marvel comic book film for me personally.  I don’t think its anywhere near as good as Spidey 2 or X2, because those films had far more compelling villains and were directed by more talented people.  This is a problem that will hopefully be addressed in the sequel.  Iron Man does not have the great villains of a Batman or Spidey to choose from, but he does have some engaging baddies that we will hopefully see in the next film.  In the meantime, thanks to Downey, Iron Man marks a rousing start to what is hopefully a great summer of entertainment at the multiplexes.

Film Grade: B

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