Cast
Robert Downey Jr ... Tony Stark / Iron ManTerrence Howard ... Jim Rhodes
Jeff Bridges ...  Obadiah Stane / Iron Monger
Gwyneth Paltrow ... Pepper Potts

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Running Time: 2hrs 5mins
Release Date: 02/05/08

When mortally wounded billionaire arms-manufacturer Tony Stark is given a second chance at life, he decides making lethal weapons is not, perhaps, the best way to live his life and sets about making amends instead by becoming ... IRON MAN.

Robert Downey Jr. - who was Oscar nominated role in Chaplin many moons ago, then fell from grace spectacularly - is firmly back on the A-list in the lead role. As conflicted, guilt-ridden Stark, you get the impression this could well be the part he was born to play - and if it's not, he certainly does a good job convincing you otherwise! Iron Man is the same model as Batman Begins, a dark origin story which requires a powerful performance and a solid script. This films delivers in spades - although, anyone looking for a flurry of action from start to finish might be disappointed as Stark struggles to cope with post-traumatic stress, guilt, loneliness and alcoholism on his road to becoming Iron Man.
 
The supporting cast give a real gravity to the story too, as 4-time Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges plays the shady Obadiah and Gwyneth Paltrow plays Stark's only constant companion, Pepper.

Paltrow, for her part, is surprisingly good as the demure assistant keeping Stark's life together. Their mutual attraction is uncertain and never overplayed, resulting in a very believable love interest. Unfortunately, Paltrow's performance does fall apart in certain places, especially at the final peril where her character falls into the typical wavering damsel in distress mould. Given Paltrow's strong conviction in her performance up until then, however, it is possible that this is a problem with the script, rather than her acting.
                    
Adding to the weight of the film, however, (especially compared to other Marvel Comic adaptations) is Iron Man that this film so readilys with heavy current issues. Stark's investigation into his own company's involvement in the Military Industrial Complex is a damning criticism of big business involvment in the Middle East, and his willingness to deal with a Darfur-styled situation while the military stand back has very real similarity with the state of the world.
                    
Superficially, the film looks and sounds great too. The effects are very much grounded in the real world, and the CGI has a concrete feel to it. The violence is very visceral and actions scenes are downright gritty. The sound and soundtrack are perfect in keeping the pace going though some of the slower parts and when the inevitable Black Sabbath Iron Man riff breaks in it couldn't be timed any better.
                    
Iron Man is comic book movies grown up, following the group like Batman Begins and Sin City, and, while not a family film, is definitely one to watch.

James Looney