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Rating:
The seasonal overload of superhero films has an absolute protagonist who, perhaps, was not so obviously expected to be a favorite.
The great success of "Iron Man" confirms one thing: we absolutely need to seek something new, otherwise there is a rather heavy risk of the genre becoming monotonous. In a year eagerly awaiting "Batman - The Dark Knight" after the great success of the talented Nolan's previous film, Favreau surprisingly plays a valid and unexpected card, by retrieving a disgracefully underestimated actor like Robert Downey Jr. and pairing him with a great cast; Jeff Bridges above all, but also the fast-rising (and talented) Terrence Howard and the unusually carefree Gwyneth "Chris Martin" Paltrow, in the key role of the beautiful and sweet assistant Pepper Potts.
But let's get to the main attraction, and let's say it right away: Downey is absolutely irresistible. He is Tony Stark through and through. Boastful, arrogant, let's even say jerk in the very first part of the film; ironic and reckless champion of justice in the second. That said, the story has been rightly updated to the present day; Stark finds himself having to escape from a terrorist base camp in Afghanistan. And he does so by building a metal suit that, once back home (and having abandoned the weapons manufacturing sector), he will use (refining it) to fight his former clients. His decision will displease partner Obadiah Stane, who will battle him by becoming the fearsome enemy Iron Monger.
The director Favreau focuses on irony, a bit less on action (despite Marvel's first "directed" production), but despite this, he circumvents the obstacle by focusing entirely, in the empty moments, on the comedic prowess of a wild Downey and on a rather good narrative plot for a film of this genre. Terrence Howard has fun, and it shows, in portraying best friend Jim Rhodes, who will become Iron Man's "partner," War Machine ("next time...", he whispers upon seeing his future armor for the first time). Furthermore, highlighting more the aspect of the process (both practical and psychological) of the superhero's "birth" and "growth" proves successful, limiting the face-off with the villain of the moment to a final battle that directly quotes the Robocop/Cain clash in Robocop 2 (not surprisingly, the titanium and kevlar robocop was created heavily inspired by Iron Man himself).
A film that, given its enormous success, could lead future superhero productions to follow different guidelines than in the past. Fortunately.
We await, rather hopeful, the sequel (April 30, 2010).
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