SCI FI PI

Released May 1
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terence Howard
Director Jon Favreau
Rated M

Does Iron Man live up to it's hype? Not quite. Although it would be the world's greatest movie if it did. That said, it's not a bad effort at all, and everything you saw in the trailer was true. Robert Downey is suavely damaged goods, the action is fast and furious and the technology is the coolest movie technology, ever. Iron Man is a must-see movie for the Marvel-ites and of course, for anyone looking for a big screen romp.



Cool? Yes, yes I am.


The story is one of the greats. Tony Stark, international arms dealer, alcoholic and directionless womanizer, is enjoying the fruits of his genius level aptitude for all things mechanical and electronic. He works in concert with a father figure, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) and together they keep the world safe from, er, for, democracy. His lovely and efficient assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) tries to keep him on track as a human being and on schedule as an international high flyer, but with limited success. Life is sweet, but Tony is a shell of a man, propped up only by the trappings of immense wealth.

When he comes out to Afghanistan to demonstrate his latest product, the 'Jericho' missile, Tony runs into a spot of bother. Captured by non-denominational bad guys, Tony is asked to build a Jericho for them. But he has other plans. Hilarity ensues.



I will squish, then burrrrrrrrrrn. Marshmallows die!


The film is a two-pronged experience: on the one hand, it is a display of the sexiest technology ever seen of film, hands down. The gizmos and gadgets that surround Tony Stark will have geeks more hot under the collar than his supermodelesque boink victims. And when you get into the Iron Man suits, well that's a whole new level. It's not just a dude in a costume - everything 'works'.

You see everything built from the inside out, and, in one of the deftest touches of all, director Jon Favreau actually takes us inside the suit with Tony, often and with purpose. You hardly notice it, but it's the difference between living the moment and watching the moment, something that never happened on Spider-Man.



Ummmmm. How do I turn this thing off again?

The second part of the movie is somewhat overshadowed by the 'action ride'. It's the classic story of man's redemption, the superhero's rise from self-loathing to self-sacrificing. This works, always, and in the right hands, has real power. Favreau and Downey don't disappoint here. With Jeff Bridges, Terence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow on board, there is no lack of acting talent.

What there is a lack of, however, is time.

The action goes ahead at such a frenetic pace that the emotions of the piece often get little more than lip service, and true character building stuff has to be condensed into micro-seconds of meaning. It's very tough, and easily missed with all the hullaballoo going on. Throw in the visually stunning design and locations and you have a great deal to process with only one set of eyeballs. While the plot careens on to a somewhat overly neat ending (although a tremendous final moment) you sit there wishing there was more time to enjoy and to savour.

Obviously, if you're a fifteen year-old hopped up on a bucket of Coke, this is going to be the best movie you've ever seen.



All versions of the suit are displayed, fan boys. Relax.


For the rest of us, there's a feeling of something missing, brought on by the 'speed character' stuff. Some may be able to process it all, but others will feel the absence of a genuine emotional journey outside our central character. That said, this is a comic book movie, people. The fact that real emotion is even expected shows you just how far the genre has come. The fact that it is even remotely accomplished shows what a decent script, acting and directing will get you.

The film isn't without its quibbles. Some may have the heebie jeebies with the whole terrorists vs Americans plot, and there's some tricky dancing to fit into a kid-friendly rating system with all the slaughter going on. Ironically, the deft touches of humour in the film point to a sparsity of yucks. When we laugh, we do heartily, and there's some nice lines. But it's reasonably dark stuff (although not as dark as Batman Begins), especially when the chats about dealing arms come into it. Must be hard for American ears to hear.



The flying sequences are very well done. You are there. So is Robert. It's good.


Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't look too uncomfortable, but she just doesn't quite have the 'sass' for the part to give the film a kicker of a triangle between good guy/bad guy/heroine. Jeff Bridges has a power and presence, but his characterization (and Downey Jr's) are curtailed by the film's truncated nature. There seemed to be a couple of acts missing. Perhaps it may not have been there to begin with - perhaps it's just more Iron Man we want.

Thick with in-jokes and references for the fan boys, the story is a classic origin tale, true to the comic, but with an updated setting in time and place. It's one of the most visually beautiful of all the superhero movies, contains classic action sequences and a clever sound and sound effects track. It really is worth a look on the big screen, it's rocket-powered adventure of the first order - and if you're not into that sort of thing, well, you're not very fun to be around, are you?



Personal Assistant Pepper Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, considers a new job.


P.S. Stay until after the credits for a real fanboy treat.