Big silly fun

Rating: 8/10 (13 April 2012)

The effects for this movie are ground-breaking. Unlike a lot of recent superhero movies where you can see what is CGI and what's not, the flying sequences, fighting action and explosions all integrate seamlessly and are completely convincing. Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as a rather dissipated 40ish drunk and former whiz kid who still has talent and charisma enough to get by, but needs a purpose. Art imitating life? He gets it when he finds his weapons are being sold to both sides in the current Afghan conflict, and decides to intercede as Iron Man. Downey is his usual likable self and Gwyneth Paltrow plays his girl-Friday-but-not-love-interest secretary with understated style; their relationship is actually charming and credible, a rare thing in action movies. The movie itself strikes a deft balance between shoot-em- up and peacenik sensibilities as the hero strives for peace and justice through superior technology and firepower. This is also rare and welcome in the action movie genre, which tend to perpetuate Reagan-era right- through-might attitudes. Entertaining, smart and very watchable, this movie is highly recommended by me.