
So after all the hype, did Iron Man stand up? Kind-of. I have to admit that I had HUGE expectations coming into this film and I’ve discovered that I’m usually disappointed when I do, but I couldn’t help it with this film. Marvel Comics making their first film on their own and Robert Downey Jr. as a super hero? I couldn’t wait. Now that it’s over, I had a good time, it was worth the price of a ticket but it is nowhere near as great as so many people have said. I think it seems great because, quite frankly, 2008 has been a terrible year for films so far and this is the best of a bad year (at least so far).
What’s good? Downey, the special effects and the general plot line.
What’s not good? The length, the direction and the script.
Let’s start with Downey. He is as good as I thought we would be, adding that touch of sarcasm and self-awareness to his character that hardly any actor today could pull off. He is a delight to watch and without him this film would be a disaster. The special effects, as you would expect, are amazing. The scenes of Iron Man flying around and doing battle with jet fighters is just stunning. The depth of the picture makes it seem like 3D and the editing is quite strong. It’s a visual paradise to watch. I also like the general story, that is, the story of Iron Man. I don’t give credit to anybody on the film for this, that credit belongs to Marvel and the legendary Stan Lee.
Where the film falls flat is in it’s writing and directing. Jon Favreau is a bit over his head with this film and it shows in the wasteful use of such actors as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard. When you are handed these three as your supporting cast you have to get more out of the script for them to act with. Their characters were almost unnecessary and why you would cast such great actors into these roles is beyond me. And that brings up my biggest complaint. When you have Downey as your lead, you had better deliver a script befitting his talents. It wasn’t nearly smart enough to really take advantage of Downey’s best acting traits – that sarcastic, self-awareness that makes his characters seem bigger than life. If the supporting roles don’t have much to do, why not them make this a Downey film? Favreau should have seen this from reading the script and had the changes made to either showcase Downey better or beef up the supporting roles.
I also had a problem with the length of the film… just over two hours and it could have been 30 minutes shorter. I know it’s the trend these days – longer films – but I wish directors would show some restraint and make the film shorter when the story screams out for it. For the two hours that I did watch, I sure wish I could have seen more action scenes, or at the very least additional plot development.
In the end, I felt like I was watching a film that is just setting up a new franchise. Maybe Iron Man 2 will be better. I certainly hope so, but for now this one will do if you are looking for a fun movie to beat the Summer heat.
Rating: 


Film’s website: http://ironmanmovie.marvel.com/