Ironman: A Robert Downey Jr. vehicle

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2008)

Yes, the pun is definitely intended, as this grade-A, summer blockbusting, popcorn flick does it's damnedest to launch Mr. Downey into the rarefied stratosphere of A-list action-adventure superheroes.
The plot is this: Billionaire playboy, Tony Stark, makes a sizable living creating incredible weapons of mass destruction, but gets his come-up pence when he is attacked and kidnapped by bad-guys that use the very weapons he creates. Nearly mortally wounded, and forced to create weapons for his captors, said playboy creates the ultimate weapon to effect his escape, and vows to destroy his creations that have fallen into the wrong hands.
Mr. Downey does a fabulous rendering of bazillionaireTony Stark, the freewheeling, womanizing, morally aloof heir to a multinational, military-industrial weapons conglomerate, Stark Industries. To say that Mr. Stark is wildly indifferent to the woes of the common man would be the understatement of the year, based on the astonishing lifestyle that is evidenced by some of the sets that were created for this movie. From the sprawling, sensual, high-tech, cliff-side mansion, the private customized jumbo-jet, and the warehouse-sized garage full of motorcycles and super-sexy sports cars, everything about Tony Stark and this movie bows to the whims of ultra-technology taken to its logical extremes. Mr. Stark has gadgets that put James Bond's Q to shame, and Mr. Stark's world of Human-Artificial Intelligence interface, Rock-Star like notoriety, and obligatory carnal acquisitions are the stuff of tech-no-geeks', comic book nerds' wet dreams. Yes, Robert Downey Jr. does succeed in making mutant, uber-geek, hyper-genius quite glamorous and cool.
It doesn't hurt that Marvel Entertainment hired a director that actually might have read an Ironman comic book in his lifetime. Jon Favreau, most noted for his tongue in cheek romantic comedies, and as Ben Affleck's side-kick in another Marvel movie, Daredevil, takes the reins and ably delivers the first knockout blow of the summer. Major nods go to Mr. Favreau's vision, Lucasfilm Industrial Light and Magic special effects wizardry, and the army of CGI artists, and puppeteers that actually create the very credible illusion of the Ironman armor. Such attention to intricate detail easily a rival, if not surpasses the wonderful robotic limbs of Doctor Octopus that were seen in Spiderman 2. Mr. Favreau also casts himself in the movie as one of Mr. Stark's bodyguards, Hap Hogan.
The plot itself seems a bit sluggish in parts at first, but is never dull or uninteresting. Robert Downey Jr. is in just about every scene, but it appears that Mr. Downey was born to portray Tony Stark and the sleek, shining golden knight, Ironman. The action sequences are fast and frenetic, the comedic turns aptly placed, and the operatic villainy of Jeff Bridges' Obediah Stane quite well received to produce the next heir apparent to the title of "best comic-book movie ever" in Marvel's library of comic books brought to the screen.
The only possible draw-back to such a very handsome essay would be the short two-hour running time, and the under use of some of Hollywood's heavy hitters.
Gwyneth Paltrow is a very comely Pepper Pots, Mr. Starks major domo, but seems to have little to do in this outing. The attempt to create some sort of sexual tension between Pepper Pots, and Tony Stark falls noticeably short of the mark.
Terrance Howard's, Major James Rhodes, although a necessary character to remain true to the Ironman comics, is almost seen as an after-thought in the movie. Mr. Howard seems just a bit envious of not playing a bigger part in this obvious box-office rain-maker.
Jeff Bridges does bring just the right touch of malevolence that is expected in such comic-book movie fare, but he doesn't get opportunity, or necessary screen time to flesh out the character of Obediah Stane.
Finally, although credited with being in the cast, if you're looking for Samuel L. Jackson, you'll just have to wait for it. Mr. Jackson's only part to play in this matter is to offer a hint of things to come. There's no telling what Marvel Entertainment plans to assemble, hopefully, in the very near future.