Career Saving Performance From Downey Jr

Rating: 9/10 (3 October 2008)

Wow, come in from out of the cold Mr. Downey Jr, hands up who would have thought that RDJ would have been given the lead roll in an action hero film at the age of 44. Not me that is for sure! What a great choice, I have watched this film 3 times now and each time I like it more. Downey Jr is better placed than most to portray the playboy millionaire Tony Stark.
Downey Jr's life is probably had more up's and down's that a Ferris Wheel, he was kicked off the Ally McBeal show for falling unceremoniously off the waggon and looked to be dead in the water career wise. How wrong can you be? The movie is jam packed with special effects that really give this film a wow factor in a summer with other block busters from Marvel like 'The Incredible Hulk' and the 'The Dark Knight'. The Iron Man was definitely viewed as the underdog but has come out fighting, IMO it easily edges the Hulk into third place.
Jeff Bridges plays sinister well, come on, any guy with a bald head is going to be a bad guy.. Gwyenth Paltrow looks like she has be schooled by the Mark Wahlberg actors guild, she appears so wooden that she may have dutch elm disease.
The story is not without faults for a movie based on a comic, there may be one or two out there who will be unhappy with the direction. These minor technicalities shouldn't be held against this movie as the overall production is fantastic. Iron Man has been made at a time where special effects can truly bring a comic book adaptation to life without any corners being cut.
I just wanted to touch on the the special effects in conjunction with the Incredible Hulk! the Iron man special effects are IMO top drawer without looking too obvious, you might say that all special effects are obvious and you would be right.. but when it looks natural and almost plausible you know the boffins have really worked hard to make it seamless, whereas 'The Incredible Hulk' although better than the first re-imagining, still lacks the finesse of Iron Man.