ZEE'S REVIEWS

28th June 2008
Iron Man (2008)

It seems a lot easier to be a superhero if you're a business tycoon or a wealthy industrialist. No day job to distract you, unlimited finances to bankroll your work, and a ready supply of faithful servants to support you.

And so it is for Tony Stark, an arms manufacturer who undergoes a radical change of heart after discovering his weapons are being used by terrorists. His ordeal at their hands leads him to create a suit of powered armour that makes him the invulnerable Iron Man. He abandons his playboy lifestyle to fight for the cause of justice.

This could have been just another superhero story, except for the fact that Tony Stark is brought to life by Robert Downey Jr, who totally owns the role. His Tony Stark is dry, deadpan, sardonic, charming, and just a little bit obnoxious. Likewise perfectly cast are Gwyneth Paltrow as assistant Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard as army pal James Rhodes, and Jeff Bridges as mentor Obadiah Stane.

Iron Man is a movie that is pure pleasure to watch. From the casual opening banter to the brazen final line, it is smart, funny, and consistently entertaining. It ranks up there with Batman Begins in terms of compelling origin stories. The only difference is that Iron Man seems to be having a lot more fun.

Read Alaris' review of Iron Man (2008).