Good Middle Third, but Stale clichéd Story/Romance

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2008)

Ironman does well overall despite a formulaic, stale, and implausible storyline. It's sleek effects are competent, and (spoiler) it's middle third where Stark develops his suit cozy and entertaining, like someone inviting you to their abode to show you their new pride of ownership. I know nothing of the comic book origins or how faithful this movie is to it, nor do I really care - fact is making interesting villains helps to separate good and great movies, and the writing isn't there for these villains. (spoiler) Jeff Bridges is a fun actor to watch, but doesn't quite have substance here, and when are writers and people going to stop with the continual poor cliché of Middle Eastern Terrorists....stick to corrupt drug lords at least as a better cliché instead of following the mindless propaganda. Also the romance is pretty much an afterthought. Gweyneth Paltrow is completely uninvolving and maybe miscast. But the effects and lavishness are wonderful to behold - as if capturing the spirit of a teenager who gets to work on his own sports-car. There is some good, light humor along the way. So, I'd recommend Ironman although maybe not glowingly which is a lot better than a lot of movies these days...it make it above the mixed category into solid and worthy despite some of it's lackings.