Superhero hair rock?! Iron Man meets Iron Maiden next on
SICK SAD WORLD
Directed by Jon Favreau
SICK SAD WORLD
Were this film not a success, I don't think an Avengers movie would have happened. But here we are. Iron Man was a surprise smash hit in the summer of 2008, and this weekend, the first of May 2012, Marvel's the Avengers will be opening. So, it feels like as good a time as any to look at the films that brought us to this point.
After being kidnapped by, and escaping from a terrorist camp, genius billionaire weapons manufacturer Tony Stark builds himself a suit of armor, determined to rid the world of the weapons he helped create.
Iron Man is the success it is for one reason. There is an old saying that ninety percent of a director's job is casting, and that has never been more true. Jon Favreau obviously understood that the only way Iron Man would
work is if Tony Stark fascinated as a character. He knew that without
the right actor, the movie
wouldn't work, and without Robert Downey, Jr as Tony Stark/Iron Man, this film would have fallen apart. What is most amazing about this performance is how Downey internalizes Stark's pain and anguish. He lets us see his horror at the war profiteering system he has been a part of, his alcoholism, his self-loathing, through his haunted eyes all the while cracking wise, deflecting concern or criticism with a quick line and a charming smirk. When he feels called to atone for his past mistakes, he doesn't make a big speech about moral responsibility, that wouldn't feel right coming from Stark, but you can feel the anger burning through his cool facade. As it stands, thanks to his performance, the movie works extremely well with a script that is tailored perfectly to Downey's wit. As far as superheros go, only Christopher Reeves (vastly different) performance as Superman achieves what Robert Downey, Jr does here.
This praise heaped on Downey is in no way meant to slight the rest of the cast, because they are all first rate as well. It is just that the rest of the characters play straight man to Tony Stark. Terrance Howard and Jeff Bridges are both just right as Stark Industries military contact Col. Rhodes and business partner Obidiah Stane, respectively. The other real standout performance belongs to Gwyneth Paltrow as Stark's assistant Pepper Potts. In turns frustrated by Stark's lack of focus and legitimately heartbroken and terrified that he is going to get himself killed, Paltrow never misses a beat. Her and Downey have fantastic chemistry together as well.
The only real flaw the film has is that the actions scenes, what few there are, never really impress. It isn't the visual effects that are the problem. Those are fantastic. The choreography of the fights are a little dull. They never get your heart racing like the best action scenes do. The final battle, between Iron Man and the Iron Monger is a particular disappointment. What's fortunate, however, is that while the battle between the two Iron suits isn't great, the battle of ideas between the men wearing them (Stark and Stane) is still engrossing.
Iron Man got this new series of interconnected films based on Marvel comics off to a great start. It surprised audiences and critics alike, not with action or clever plotting, but with a movie built around a wonderful, engrossing character, brought to life by Robert Downey, Jr in a way no other actor could have done. An excellent film.
****1/2 (out of *****)
All in all, I echo your sentiments, but that lackluster fight at the end brings it down a bit more in my eyes. Downey rebranded himself with this film, and Paltrow plays off him perfectly. The scenes between the two of them are fantastic. Terrance Howard was serviceable - there wasn't much about him that interested me. Jeff Bridges is pitch-perfect as always, if a bit confined by his role. Were it not a comic book film (and he the obligatory villain), he could have taken this to a new, exciting dimension.
ReplyDeleteBut the film still works Marvel-ously well (haha, pun), and it's nearly all because of Downey. His ease with the character is refreshing. I still recall shuddering with dread every time I saw the trailer and heard them start blasting "Iron Man" (really? that was the only song they could come up with?)... he saved Iron Man and propelled this group of films to the forefront of our current cultural consciousness.