I typically don’t do sci-fi, nor do I really follow the comic book scene, but along with the all-star cast and 13 award nominations, 3 of which were wins, I had to check this one out.   I also spent most of last year training for the Ironman triathlon in September of 2008, so it deserves a chance just for the name.

Plot:
Seems like a pretty acceptable blockbuster/sci-fi/comic book plot - boy genius takes over dad’s business, grows a conscience, and battles off evil super-powered business partners.   Ok, good start, and with all the high tech gadgets laying around, you know there’s bound to be some laser beam outer space, half-man half-machine action scenes.

Characters:
Robert Downy Jr. has always been a likable actor for me - if you’re looking for more RDJ, check out A Scanner Darkly (wild, rotoscoped animation effects & TRIPPY plot) and his latest, Tropic Thunder with Ben Stiller and Jack Black.

The problem with RDJ in Ironman is that he’s just too cool and unemotional to make the most of the story.  When his character Tony Stark decides to change the course of the company from being a weapons manufacturer to something more responsible, we don’t really see any emotional development or expression in Tony.  It’s as if he got whacked in the head and then all of a sudden Eureka!  Let’s stop making bombs and save the world!  His romantic interest in Gwyneth Paltrow’s character Pepper Pots seems similarly underdeveloped, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

I’m glad to see Jeff Bridges, playing Stark’s nemesis Obadiah Stane, back in the spotlight.  We all loved him as The Dude in The Big Lebowski ten years ago, but his movies haven’t really caught my eye since then.  Stane is such a warm, respectable guy, I wish he would have been a mentor-figure to Stark, but he did a decent job as a villain as soon as he stepped into his own menacing armor-plated-mech-warrior-suit-thing.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s character Pepper Pots seemed to be the only real source of emotion on the film, but I was surprised how small her role turned out to be.  Pepper Pots is Tony Stark’s assistant of the tough, hands-on, capable sort, rather than just getting coffee and keeping track of appointments.

Action:
There’s loads of action in this flick, as you would expect, right from the opening scenes when Tony Stark demonstrates his companies latest weapon - the Jericho missile (reminds me of that shareware video game Scorched Earth) to Tony’s humvee being attacked.  Explosions everywhere.

The action scenes later in the movie between Stark and Stane in the Ironman suits reminded me a lot of the Spiderman movies - lots of zooming through the sky, flipping through the air, and hurling heavy objects - and the opponent - all over the place.  Tony Starks Ironman suit seemed a bit too indestructible, and I think it would have added some suspense if Stane put up a bit more of a fight.  The final battle was pretty one sided; I didn’t doubt for a second that Stark was going to win.  The Spiderman movies did a much better job of showing the hero’s weakness.

That being said, there was plenty of HIGHLY entertaining action - I can’t wait to see this in HD with the surround sound cranked.  I have no doubt the house will shake!

Romance:
There is only one romantic thread in the plot line and that is the relationship between Stark (RDJ’s character) and Pots (Paltrow).  Early on, Stark is living the playboy’s dream, getting what he wants when he wants it.  After returning from his foreign imprisonment, we don’t see any reason this would change until he notices, REALLY notices, his assistant at the company party.  They share a dance and almost kiss, and then NOTHING for the next 50 minutes of the film.  In the closing scenes, they awkwardly reminisce about their dance and then go RIGHT back to business!  ‘Is that all Mr. Stark?”

Conclusion:
All in all, I REALLY DID ENJOY THIS FILM, and I’m sure I will watch it again.  Robert, Jeff, and Gwyneth are definitely on my list of favorites, and if nothing else, I’ll be watching closely for their next releases.

Two notes of my own interest:
1.  This film was obviously sponsored by Audi.  We get some get views of the A5 and the R8 super car.  A bit too obvious, but I’m not complaining.

2.  I’m a watch nut, and I’m pretty sure the black leather band is back for the attack:

Robert Downy Jr.
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Jeff Bridges
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Terrence Howard
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(I’m not a lawyer, but (disclaimer) these are not my images.  Please don’t sue me.)

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