Entertaining Comic Book Movie Hurt by Slow Second Act

Rating: 7/10 (11 August 2008)

Iron Man was the first movie to open this summer and was one of the most anticipated it's been a huge hit with audiences so i'm sorry i've been late in writing this review.
Iron Man stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark a weapons manufacturer who gets kidnapped in the middle east and held hostage by crazed terrorist Raza who wants Tony to build him a missle that would due great damage to wherever it hits. Stark instead builds a metal suit equipped with flame throwers and an arm that shoots out and sends men flying thru the caves of afghanistan. After blowing up the base where he was held captive Tony comes to the stunning realization that the weapons he makes are being used by the terrorists to do harm around the world and to kill American soldiers fighting in afghanistan. Because of this Stark shuts down all weapons production in Stark Industries which angers mentor Obidian Stane (goatee wearing Jeff Bridges)and confuses love interest and assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Realizing he must do good for now on Tony builds a much more advanced version of the suit he built in Afghanistan do defeat the forces of evil foreign and domestic. (Spoiler) We find out later in the movie Stane ordered Tony's kidnapping and planned to kill him so he could take over the company. He's also in cahoots with the terrorists and has been giving them the Stark Industry weapons Tony wants destroyed. A showdown occurs between him and Tony at the end on top of Stark Industries. Overall i liked this movie it was breezy summer fun with enough laughs to lighten the other darker elements of the picture while having enough action to satisfy action fans (even though it could have had a little more action and little less talk). My only gripe is it's slow second act that drags at times and especially the lengthy scene in which Stane goes on and on about how he orchestrated the kidnapping in Afghanistan while pulling Tony's heart respirator out of his chest. (You'll know what i mean when you see the movie) So overall definitely see it it's worth your time.