A near-death experience changes a flamboyant genius’ outlook on his life’s path and his legacy in the summer’s first true blockbuster, “Iron Man.”
Military industrialist, certified genius and admitted lothario Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) lives a decidedly different life than any of us could possible even imagine. Private jets, an intelligent house and a top Forbes company are just the tip of the iceberg for this benefactor of the game of war.
Ironically, it is that very game that ends up biting him in his rich tuckus. While demonstrating his new missile system, the Jericho, for Army brass in Afghanistan, Stark is taken captive by a mercenary band. Awakening to find himself fitted with an electromagnet in his chest that is keeping shrapnel from his wounds from progressing to his heart, Stark also learns he is to make a Jericho for his captors. Stark decides otherwise.
Stark creates a metal exoskeleton powered by the same electromagnetic power supply he has in his chest. This impregnable shell allows him to punish his assailants amidst a hail of gun and rocket fire without concern for their armaments and allows him to flee his captors and find the U.S. Army.
Back on American soil, Stark has had an epiphany. He informs his friend and military liaison Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) that Stark Enterprises is going to be heading in a new direction. This does not sit as well with Stark’s mentor and longtime family friend Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) who believes Tony to be suffering from post-traumatic stress after his incident. Despite the opposition, Stark refines his original suit coming up with a composite that includes the ability to fly. He is forced to infiltrate his own company with the help of his loyal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) where he learns the sobering truth about supposed friends and the plans to exploit his newfound power supply and suit with the creation of the Iron Monger. Can the Iron Man stand alone against such power?
Feel free to believe the hype, because “Iron Man” delivers a scrap yard full of intelligently written, hero-driven adventure. Director Jon Favreau takes one of Marvel’s more iconic characters and pieces together a plausible and relevant tale that holds the viewers attention and gives enough of the requisite comic-action (i.e.; snappy one liners, obligatory Stan Lee sighting and rumble with nemesis) to keep the most ardent fan boy from spewing disdain.
The real story, however, is unquestionably Downey. Finally, one of the finer American actors seems to have put his life in order. He is Tony Stark in both look and action and is a joy to watch in arguably the finest comic book casting ever.
I highly recommend “Iron Man” to one and all. Whether you are a lifelong Marvelite or you are viewing this as a standalone action flick, you will be tremendously entertained and satisfied by one of the finest comic adaptations ever brought to the big screen (“Spider-Man,” “Spider-Man 2” and “Batman Begins” hold the bar). The summer season kicks off with a bang. We have promises of thrills to come with “Speed Racer,” “The Dark Knight,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “The Incredible Hulk,” and that, my fellow true believers, is the magic of Hollywood. Here’s to Tinseltown’s metal not rusting out on us for a change.
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