‘Iron Man’
is quite a hero

At the Movies
By Senitra Horbrook

For some people, the Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year, but for moviegoers like me, I beg to differ. The most wonderful time of the year is the summer blockbuster season, and with movies like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (the newest installment in 18 years), The Dark Knight (featuring Heath Ledger’s final complete performance), Sex and the City (for the ladies) and Hancock (Will Smith playing a down-and-out superhero), there is a lot to be excited about this year.
Iron Man kicks off 2008’s summer movies, and it soars. In fact, it was so nice that I’ve already seen it twice (at a preview screening last week and again with friends over the weekend).
Iron Man is the latest Marvel Comic to hit the big screen, joining the ranks of X-Men, Spider-Man, Blade, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Daredevil, Elektra and Ghost Rider. While some comic-book movies are big flops, others inspire. Iron Man fits into that category.
Since it’s the first film in what will inevitably be a series, director Jon Favreau (who makes a cameo as the chauffeur) has the heavy task of explaining the "how" and the "why" of Iron Man. Iron Man is the creation of Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.), the genius head of Stark Industries, a successful weapons manufacturing company. Tony also is a wisecracking playboy and his banter adds some welcome comic relief, no pun intended.
While in Afghanistan to present his newest, most powerful missile to the U.S. military, Tony is injured by a bomb and captured by a group of terrorists. Those bad guys want Tony to recreate his missile for them to use to take over the world. Tony realizes that the very weapons he made to save America just might destroy her.
Tony creates a suit of iron with built-in weapons, which will help him escape with his life intact. Upon returning home to California, he creates an even more powerful version of his suit and faces a few more bad guys in some great action scenes. My brief description here doesn’t nearly do the plot of Iron Man justice, since it’s one of those films you’ve got to see to really understand.
At first glance, Robert Downey Jr. seems like a questionable choice to play Tony Stark. However, after seeing his performance, it is very difficult to picture another actor in the role. Downey’s last few performances (the well-received Zodiac and little-seen Charlie Bartlett) had him play characters with substance-abuse issues. Iron Man is no different, as Tony Stark has similar issues. Downey’s well-publicized drug problems, arrests and stints in jail and rehab in the ’90s make it easy to understand why he can play these characters so well.
Downey’s main co-stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard as James "Rhodey" Rhodes and Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Shane, are also at the top of their game.
Iron Man has never ranked among the most popular superheroes (Superman, Spider-Man and Batman take the cake here), but there may be a change in that lineup with the release of this film. I expect to see quite a few kids dressing as Iron Man for Halloween. I just hope that the sequel(s) live up to the first film and keep audiences wanting more.
Speaking of wanting more, if you’re patient enough to stick around for the end of the credits, you will be rewarded with a little something extra at the end. ••
Movie Grade: A-