Robert Downey, Jr. didn’t exist until Iron Man, at least for me. I’d never heard of the guy nor had I seen him before. Then the role of Tony Stark jumped into his lap and he became a household name in 126 minutes.
Marvel gave Iron Man a try at the cinema in 2008 with Jon Favreau directing and the film received over $585 million at the box office for its efforts.
The action scenes are entertaining to watch and the visual effects looked real. What really keeps this film going is Downey’s performance. He accentuates all of Stark’s main personality traits, from his cocky attitude and playboy persona, to his innovative mind and technological foresight. He has his flaws, but I found it hard not to feel for the guy.
Shaun Toub plays Ho Yinsen, the man who saves Stark’s life after shrapnel nearly pierces his heart. Yinsen is Stark’s catalyst for change, revealing that Stark is a man who has everything and yet nothing. During their work together and the escape from the cave, Stark becomes a changed man and sets out to do more for the world then make weapons.
A solid supporting cast in Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges aids Downey’s effort. Paltrow’s Pepper Potts is a loyal companion and the audience is teased with a possible romance while Bridges encompasses Obadiah Stane, his father’s old partner. His menace and ruthlessness are like peas in a pod for him. He was a great actor to put across from Downey.
Once again, if you’re new to my blog, I’ve always ranked movies on a scale of 0-100 (I don’t know why, I just always have). Here’s the grading scale.
90-100 It’s a great movie and definitely one worth buying. (42, Just Go With It, Real Steel, Miracle, Scrooge)
80-89 It was a pretty good movie and definitely one worth seeing, but it doesn’t quite scratch my top ten percentile. (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Gangster Squad, Elf, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Poseidon)
70-79 It’s okay but I’ve seen better. It has its moments, but it has its flaws, too. (The Usual Suspects, 21 Jump Street, Escape Plan, Captain America: The First Avenger, Dawn of the Dead)
60-69 It’s got plenty wrong with it but I still got enjoyment out of this one. (Pacific Rim, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Disaster Movie)
50-59 This movie isn’t intolerable but it’s not blowing my mind either. I’m trying really hard to get some sort of enjoyment out of this. (Along Came Polly, Aliens, Alien Resurrection, Full Metal Jacket, Thor)
40-49 This movie is just mediocre. It’s not doing anything other than the bare minimal, so morbidly boring that sometimes I’m actually angry I watched this. (Patriot Games, The Great Gatsby, Pitch Black, Alien, Serendipity)
30-39 Definitely worse than mediocre, the 30’s ironically define the 1930’s, full of depression, lack of accomplishments, poverty and just so dumb. (The Contract, Pride and Prejudice, Redemption)
20-29 What did I just watch? Cliches, stupidity, nothingness, did I mention stupidity? Just…wow. (The Sum of All Fears, Thor: The Dark World)
0-19 Watching this movie resulted in one or more of the following: seizure, loss of brain cells, falling asleep/unconsciousness, feel you wasted your time/day, accomplished nothing for you, left the movie knowing less about it then you did going into it, constantly asking yourself why you came to see this movie, or near-death experience. In short, staring at a wall was just as entertaining as watching this movie. This movie deserved a sticker or a label that said, “WARNING: EXTREME AMOUNT OF SUCKAGE.” (Midnight Cowboy, Dark Fury, Alien 3)
My score for Iron Man: 87.
This was a great starting point for a superhero franchise, but I do find myself asking for a little more.
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