Iron man fires on all thrusters; and does NOT disappoint

Rating: 10/10 (5 May 2008)

Iron Man is that rarest of summer movie experiences; an effects-heavy actioner that actually delivers solid characters that give it real heart (and not a bunch of blank-slate 20 year-olds staring at green-screen effects). As director Jon Favreau might've said a dozen years ago in his movie 'Swingers', "this movie is SO money!" Robert Downey Jr. plays millionaire/playboy weapons manufacturer Tony Stark, who learns after a life-changing experience in the deserts of Afghanistan that his legacy is NOT what he's been led to believe. His convoy is attacked, and Stark is critically injured with shrapnel (from one of his OWN missiles) to the heart. He awakens a prisoner, to find a fellow captive named Yinsin (played by Shaun Toub, doing a Ben Kingsley-in-Schindler's List kind of role); who's patched Stark up with an awkward magnet in his chest to keep the nearly fatal (but non-removable) shrapnel from killing him. Stark learns he and Yinsin are being held by Afghani warlords (some of Stark's invisible 'customers') who want them to build for them a Stark specialty; a copy of his new super-weapon. Stark seizes the opportunity to engineer an escape plan by building a giant, bulletproof suit of armor with weapons and crude flight ability (hey, it's based on a comic book; ride with it!). Stark eventually escapes (with the sacrifice of Yinsin, sadly) and is rescued by his fellow Americans. At that point, his mind is made up; he's giving up the arms trade, much to the dismay of partner/former mentor, Obadiah Stane; an evil, bald Jeff Bridges in a great turn of smarmy villainy. At this point in the movie, surprise is not critical to the proceedings; you KNOW Stane is double-crossing Stark. You watch to see how BADLY, and so you just go along with it! So with his eyes now opened, Stark decides to set things right with a refined version of the prototype Iron Man suit that enabled his escape. Stark's only true allies in his Howard Hughes-style quest are his faithful, sweet assistant Pepper Potts (a wonderfully smart and charming turn by Gwyneth Paltrow), his fully-automated household computer system and his military attaché buddy, Jim Rhodes (Terence Howard). And off he goes; with the film striking a tone somewhere between 'Robocop' and "The Rocketeer" (not as severe as the former; not as lightweight as the latter). It all leads to a no-holds barred showdown between Stark's Iron Man and Stane's "Iron Monger" (another Iron suit; only MUCH bigger...like 'Iron Giant' on steroids!). That's the gist of the story. But what truly MAKES this film is not the mechanics of the story or even the Oscar-caliber (not to mention giddily fun) visual effects; it's the almost literal human heart you see up on the screen (and not just Stark's electromagnetically powered one!). Downey has so much FUN in the role (both as the playboy and the eccentric, not entirely-infallible inventor) that we the audience have just as much fun WATCHING him! Glad to see Downey back in a wonderful star vehicle that breezily exhibits his dramatic and comedic range (Downey's always been a major talent). And Paltrow is the perfect blend of 'Superman's' Lois Lane and a bit of 'Batman's' Alfred, but with a charm and warmth ALL her own (and I thought she was going to be wasted in the role! OK, I was wrong!). It's with its humanity that Iron Man really fires on all thrusters. And director Favreau (also cameoing slyly as Stark's loyal chauffeur) sets a stopwatch, no-fat-on-its-bones pace. The story takes its time to unfold, but NEVER lags; an editing miracle. I've seen it twice over three days and would LOVE to see it again; and I haven't felt compelled to do THAT in a very long time! And if you haven't seen it, make sure you stay until AFTER the credits for a cameo that sets up a potential off-shoot franchise. But for me, I'd rather let Iron Man fly solo at least once more, before you saddle him down with a "Super-Team" (please heed the lessons of Joel Schumacher's awful Batman movies!). Iron Man is a solid summer entertainment (overflowing with star power). And for the first time in a long while, a big summer movie exceeded my expectations in a huge way! IRON MAN gets it just right.