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May 4, 2008

"Iron Man"

After several months of trailer-induced excitement and buildup, Iron Man opened this weekend, so Elaine and I caught the 12:15 showing at Pacific Place today.

I'm pretty happy with the picture.

Let's be blunt - Iron Man is about as straightforward a superhero movie as it gets. It's the standard-edition Origin Storyline (see: Spider-Man, X-Men, Batman Begins, Fantastic Four, (actually, don't see Fantastic Four) etc.), where the otherwise-normal main character finds they're endowed with special abilities, learns to manipulate them, incurs a mortal enemy in the process, and then heads for the big, noisy, Computer-Generated Extravaganza of Explosions in the third act.

(Generally, the hero prevails and is ready for a sequel.)

What makes Iron Man work is the simple, sheer joy with which it's put together. Robert Downey, Jr. is perfect as Tony Stark, and the sets, graphics, tone, and sense of the movie really gel. When Stark is learning how to fly in his powered suit through the Los Angeles skyline - well, you buy it. He's having fun, we're having fun, it's wonderful.

I do have quibbles. There are a few clunky lines of dialog, the plot sort of teeters under its own weight at one point or another, and the stellar supporting cast - particularly Gwenyth Paltrow - isn't given a whole heckuvalot to do (it's Downey's movie). But overall, it's great, great summer popcorn fare.

Word is it made over $100M this weekend, and, frankly, it deserves it.

Oh, and if you don't know - be sure to stay until after the credits. (Thanks to Khan for the tip!)

Posted by Gavin Shearer at May 4, 2008 9:09 PM. Posted to Entertainment.

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