Iron Man Movie Review

The concept and character for Iron Man were created nearly 40 years ago, but works surprisingly well in our War-on-Terror world. The film stars Robert Downey, Jr. as multi-billionaire Tony Stark, a genius weapons designer who builds bombs and beds bombshells at such a frantic clip you're almost dizzy with jealousy. This super-patriot has a computerized butler, a collection of fabulous hot rods and a stripper pole on his private jet. Sort of a Dick Cheney for the FHM generation, Stark honestly believes the WMDs he designs are protecting his beloved US of A.

Demonstrating his latest weapon in sunny Afghanistan, Stark witnesses the brutal price of war firsthand. Captured by a sinister warlord, the injured Stark is compelled to build a weapon. Instead, Stark builds a suit of armor that helps him trash his captors and escape back to the comforts of his war profiteering. But after his ordeal Stark is a changed man. His imprisonment in the Afghan countryside modifies his worldview considerably, and he transforms into the international super-rich super-hero, Iron Man.

Thankfully, the film refrains from being preachy or overly dramatic about United States' involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan; its morality lesson is subtle, and the talented Mr. Downey gives Stark enough humanity that you admire and actually root for this four-color comic come to life.

In the undesirable role of leading lady to the superhero is Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays executive assistant Pepper Potts. In the hands of a less talented actress, Potts would have roamed too far away from the scrappy Lois Lane and more toward the dishrag Vicki Vale. But she holds her own. Jeff Bridges is wonderfully cast as bad guy Obadiah Stane and Terrence Howard sidles up as token sidekick James Rhodes.

The special effects are stellar: All the wizardry and slight-of-hand are appropriate and realistic, and the battle scenes are kick-ass. You will believe that a man can fly in a suit of armor.