Iron Man Starts the Summer Season on the Highest of Notes

by Brett Parker

Is Peter Parker too much of a winy wimp for you? Do you find Clark Kent too quiet? Was Johnny Blaze too laughable for you to take seriously? Then behold Tony Stark, the fascinating alter ego of the Marvel Comics hero, Iron Man. He’s a womanizing, hard-drinking weapons billionaire who has the mind of an inventor and the heart of a tragic figure. Here he’s brought to the big screen by none other than the wonderful Robert Downey, JR. Downey uses his smart-ass wit and narcissistic swagger to make Stark, along with Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne, one of the greatest comic book characters to ever grace the silver screen.

As the film opens, we learn that Stark is the most famous and most brilliant weapons designer on the planet. He’s like a cross between Howard Hughes and Hugh Hefner. Stark is a carefree spoiled brat who acts more like Jack Nicholson in the 70s than a responsible war figure. However, things change on a fateful trip to Afghanistan. After showing off his latest weaponry to a squadron of American troops, Stark is captured by terrorist forces after they stage an ambush on the Americans. After being seriously wounded by a bomb blast, the terrorists keep Stark alive with a special device hooked up to his heart and demand that he build them a missile.

Stark has other plans for them. While in captivity, Stark builds a suit of iron armed with various weapons. He uses the suit to blast his way out of the terrorist prison and fly to safety. Stark is found and brought back to America. Haunted by his violent experiences, Stark realizes he no longer wants to be a war profiteer and vows to help those he put in harm’s way. He does this by creating a more high-tech version of the iron suit that saved his life and uses it to fight evil. With the help of his lovely assistant Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) and his military pal Rhodes (Terrance Howard), Stark is able to create a superhero alter ego that can put a stop to the damage he unleashed on the free world. Things grow even more complicated when it’s revealed that Stark’s business partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) may have strong ties to the terrorists that captured Stark.

As a superhero film, Iron Man lies somewhere between the complex drama of Batman Begins and the fluffy fun of Daredevil. Yet this isn’t a scattered venture; the film is fully realized comic pop that gets the best of both worlds. The film makes strong efforts to unearth the underlying human complexities of the material, yet it still knows how to have a hell of a good time! Much credit is due to the special effects department at Industrial Light & Magic, who make Iron Man’s superhero feats look fully convincing and eye-popping at the same time. The effects not only dazzle us but truly give a strong sense of how the Iron Man suit would feel and operate. No small detail is spared. These effects are way more convincing than the ones in Spider-Man.

Director Jon Favreau has not only proven he can direct exceptional fluff with Elf and Zathura, but his behind-the-scenes work on Swingers and Made also proves that he is an actor’s director. So certainly he knew the importance of casting when all these heavyweight actors decided to take on seemingly thankless comic book roles. These seasoned veterans bring more conviction than probably necessary to their roles, making the comic book drama all the more fun to relish. Its great seeing Bridges as a bald-headed villain; Howard will go on to make a fine War Machine in the sequels, and Paltrow is smart and likeable in the love interest role. I really enjoyed the affectionate scenes between Paltrow and Downey. They wonderfully find the right notes, making an on-screen relationship that’s not as relaxed as Clark & Lois in Superman Returns nor as melodramatic as Peter & Mary Jane in Spider-Man.

Even with all these great qualities, it’s ultimately Robert Downey, Jr. who is the driving force behind the film. It’s so fascinating watching a quirky character actor play a superhero as opposed to a hung-up heartthrob. Most superhero characters are usually so repressed and socially inept that it’s really refreshing to see one that’s a hard-partying wild man. Like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, Downey is a fresh aura of color and humor that compliments the film and transcends it at the same time. Favreau reportedly encouraged improvisation on the set and it’s these stand-alone free flowing scenes with Downey that work the best. Scenes where Stark drinks with Rhodes on a plane and discusses relationship issues with Pepper is truly funny and Downey has a great speech toward the end about the psychological hang-ups of superheroes that lies somewhere between self-reflexivity and hilarity. Even when Starks grows sad and conflicted, Downey pours a heartfelt realism into his performance that puts most superhero performances to shame.

When it comes to great superhero films, Batman Begins and Superman Returns are still the ones to beat, yet it’s hard to deny that Iron Man is smarter and funnier than the average genre flick. Favreau has not only proven that Iron Man is more than we could’ve imagined, but Downey has found the perfect outlet for his invaluable talents to flourish. How ironic that childlike comic entertainment is usually better the more grown-up and mature it acts. How powerful it is when a superhero film actually hits on all cylinders.

By the way, you know how some movies have an extra scene waiting after all the end credits have finished playing? Iron Man has one of those and it is extremely worth waiting for after the film is over. It not only features a surprise cameo but also a surprise plot development that will get you all fired up for a sequel. Like Terrance Howard, you’ll be chanting “next time, baby!”