Iron Man
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com

For those of us without one single comic book in a protective clear shield, this is the comic book superhero movie to see.

My weekly column, "The Devil's Hammer," is posted every Monday. The Devil's Hammer on FTB. If you would like to be included on my distribution list for a weekly preview, just email me at masauu@aol.com.

For those of us not Marvel ComicsÕ fans, ÒIron ManÓ is the comic book superhero movie to see. HeÕs not a boy, heÕs always got a drink in his hand, heÕs egoistical, vain, and middle-aged. HeÕs a diva with a lot of different hairdos.

And, as Robert Downey Jr plays him, heÕs in on the superhero joke. But thereÕs a terrific hook here - Tony Stark (Downey) is obsessed with pushing the bounds of technology. That is what is driving him Ñ and the sudden realization that his weapons are killing people.

Stark always thought his companyÕs missiles Ñ which he designed, built and gloriously promoted - were merely ÒdeterrentsÓ. A high-tech sword-rattling endeavor, if you will.

Sure, Tony is given a very good reason for deciding to save the world but heÕs going to do it with his body, with his feet on the ground, and not from an estate in Britain (IÕm still insulted that Madonna named her charity ÒRaising Malawi.Ó With her personal wealth alone, Madonna could buy the entire country and feed all the people for all of their lives. Why doesnÕt she follow the example of Francis of Assisi and give all her wealth away? Adopting a trophy semi-orphan is nothing but self-glorification. As if sheÕs raising her son all by herself in a one-bedroom apartment.)ÊÊÊ

According to the image we are shown of babe-magnet - yet misogynist - Stark, his Iron Man suit is the ultimate expression of his penis Ñ itÕs even given a red, shiny finish!Ê

What led Stark to become Iron Man and the tech journey is really what makes ÒIron ManÓ a terrific, crowd pleasing movie.

Stark has two devoted people around him Ñ both in love with him. He also has a robot he talks to but doesnÕt dress in clothes like people do to their belovedÊ dogs. While Stark was held captive in Afghanistan for three months, he admitted to missing his robot-buddy.

How big is ÒIron ManÓ going to be? The crowd started to assemble outside the Rave Theater in Las Vegas for the promo screening at 2PM. The screening was for 7PM!

Directed by Jon Favreau, playing StarkÕs limo driver and looking trimmed down from obesity, ÒIron ManÓ has a strong dramatic frame. There will not be (at least I hope not) Iron Man Halloween costumes for kids. This is a movie for adults.

LetÕs face it - once the superhero suit goes on Ñ itÕs the stunt guy. ItÕs CGI. ItÕs all fake. Its miniatures. There is no further acting or character development necessary. So the writers, and there are a lot of them, Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway, give Downey a lot of time to develop StarkÕs pre-and-post conversion.Ê Ê

ItÕs not as dramatic as Saint PaulÕs Road to Damascus conversion, but it is convincing.

After a bravado performance of StarkÕs newest weapon-toy in Afghanistan for the U.S. military, he gets kidnapped and is forced to make another one for an evil gang of peace-heating thugs. (One man with an assistant in a business suit can make a nuclear weapon in a cave? We have to re-think that bloated U.S. military budget.) Instead, Stark builds a suit of armor. They are watching, but donÕt have a clue, even when heÕs trying on his iron suit legs.

Destroying Afghanistan during his escape, Stark is rescued by his devoted friend, Col. Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard). They go way back to boarding school days and lonely nights with no one to hug but each other. Stark has a saintly assistant, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and his fatherÕs best friend and now his partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges).

Stark dumps the good life of wine, women, and fast cars, and sets about building an iron Frankenstein with a twist. HeÕs inside it!Ê And he can fly as fast as a jet on steroids!

Finally with a working suit, Stark, who I am sure has a 3 picture deal, sets off on his grand scheme, leaving Stark Enterprises investors and Stane enraged. Stark stock plunges but best buddy Col. Rhodes just wants a suit of his own.

Except for the inevitable iron fist fight, where we collapse into mayhem and throw the smart story in the shredder, the ending is really a clever twist.

Whoever green lit Downey should get a big bonus. ItÕs trite to say, but he has the method down pat Ñ his characters, no matter what they do, always have a good reason. Or at least, itÕs a good enough reason for them.

Victoria Alexander lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and answers every email. You can contact Victoria directly at masauu@aol.com.

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Credits:
Director: Jon Favreau
Screenwriters: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Story by: David S. Goyer
Based on characters appearing in: Marvel Comics
Producers: Avi Arad, Kevin Feige
Executive producers: Louis D'Esposito, Peter Billingsley, Stan Lee, David Maisel, Jon Favreau
Director of photography: Matthew Libatique
Production designer: J. Michael Riva
Music: Ramin Djawadi
Costumes: Laura Jean Shannon
Editor: Dan Lebental

Cast:
Tony Stark/Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr.
Jim Rhodes: Terrence Howard
Pepper Potts: Gwyneth Paltrow
Obadiah Stane: Jeff Bridges
Yinsen: Shaun Toub
Raza: Faran Tahir


Running time 126 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13

For a complete list of Victoria Alexander's movie reviews on Rottentomatoes go to: www.rottentomatoes.com/author-3571/

Victoria's column, THE DEVIL'S HAMMER, appears every Monday on www.fromthebalcony.com/devilshammer/index.htm

Victoria Alexander's "Viewpoint on Vegas" appears on Vegas Community Online at www.vegascommunityonline.com/VictoriaAlexander.htm