Iron Man

To start with, Iron Man was one of the "big four" of my comic book heroes. Starting when I was a young teen until I was in my thirties, I was a fairly regular reader of Marvel Comics, and though I would expand to other titles there were four dudes that I bought religiously: Spider-Man, Captain America, Daredevil, and Iron Man. As with most of the Stan Lee-created heroes, he was deeply flawed--an alcoholic with a bad heart. Eventually he would have to give up the metal suit to his friend, Jim Rhodes.

Finally he's gotten his own film (I think about the only Marvel heroes who haven't are Thor and Moon Knight). The special-effects technology is up to the challenge (judging from the trailer for the new Hulk film, it is still not for that green fellow) and the title role has been ingeniously cast. Instead of some generic pretty boy, the role of playboy weapons manufacturer Tony Stark is embodied by one of the more watchable and troubled actors of his generation, Robert Downey Jr.

The casting of Downey is such a master stroke that it makes up for a lot of the films problems. I enjoyed this film, but it's rather thin--there are only three action sequences, and the rest of the film is a lot of people looking at computer screens and tinkering with machinery. At first we are introduced to Stark, who is a mechanical genius and the inheritor of a large munitions company. He enjoys his wealth, living in a cliff-side Malibu mansion (one hopes his house-controlling computer, Jarvis, monitors earthquake activity) and has numerous toys, including planes, sports cars, and beautiful women (flight attendants on his plane double as exotic dancers--save your money, kids, and one day this could be you!). On a trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate his latest missile (it's never quite clear why it's necessary for him to do it in person in a war zone, but no matter) he is kidnapped by terrorists who want him to create a missile for them. With the assistance of a similarly imprisoned doctor, Stark instead builds a Robocop suit and escapes.

His eyes opened to the consequences of making weapons of mass destruction, Stark angers his partner, Obadiah Stane (played by Jeff Bridges with a bald pate and a Gabby Hayes beard) and devotes himself to perfecting his suit. It is a similar refrain from Spider-Man, "with great power comes great responsibility," but Stark's power is entirely of his own creation, not a natural one (although he does have a mini-power generator keeping his heart beating). With the help of his assistant, Pepper Potts, who his in love with him, and his buddy, military guy Jim Rhodes (who we will one day see don the armor in an inevitable sequel) Stark tackles his enemy. I won't say who that is here, but anyone who remembers the Iron Monger from the comic book, or anyone who has half a brain will figure out who that is.

Downey so overwhelms this film with his personal charisma that it is top-heavy, with his performance teetering on top of a shaky script. The director, Jon Favreau, manages to keep things both light and a bit more hip than say, Superman, and I loved the special effects, though it's easier to simulate mechanical men than flesh. I liked Shaun Toub as the doctor who helps Stark, but Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow, as Rhodes and Potts, are slumming a bit. I really found it odd that Paltrow would be in such a nothing part. She is a Best Actress Oscar winner, for goodness sakes. This is the kind of role that an actress plays on the way up, not on the way down.

One other good thing about this film--many of the famed comic book heroes are scientists, whether they are Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker, or Tony Stark. One can only hope that young minds who see this film may take inspiration in the adventures available in science. The U.S. has been slipping badly in that area. Maybe if a kid sees that being a top scientist will get him a Lamborghini and a suit that enables him to fly and shoot missiles, he'll pay attention in school.