Ironman Review

Ironman (2008)

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Written by: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum

Starring by: Robert Downey Jr., Terrance Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow

Sometimes it's just best to go back to the very beginning and it certainly is hard to believe that the overnight success of one film initiated one of the most beloved and multi-billion dollar making film franchises in Hollywood history.  I remember when news of "Ironman" came out and that Robert Downey Jr. was cast in the role.  Given his very troubled and tabloid heavy mainstream downfall, this was seen as a possible resurgence in his career.....and boy....was it EVER!!! :)  Downey as the billionaire playboy turned metal suited man machine is by far one of, if not the best comic book character casting choices, since Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier for the Fox X-men franchise.  He immediately draws you into the character of the rapid tongue, quick witted, smart mouthed Tony Stark, successor of his father's renowned weapons company, Stark Industries, which has been developing the most sophisticated and powerful weapons for American's armed forces since the 40s.  There is just something that is too authentic and genuine about Downey as Tony, he feels so real and even when being a jackass, he manages to eventually show the cracks of a young boy just trying to make his father proud but is far too misguided in his priorities to make a profit for his company instead of making a real difference like his father did so long ago.  Joining Downey is a rousing cast of A-Listers as the time and now, Gwyneth Paltrow as the lovely yet snarky Pepper Potts, Tony's personal assistant and clearly future love interest.  Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane, co-founder of Stark Industries and Tony's partner in the company with a hidden agenda that becomes all too clear even before the twist of his true nature is revealed and of course, Terrance Howard as Rhodey or "Rhodes" I should say, Commander of the Weapons Unit of the US Military and Tony's best friend since college. It's so funny watching Terrance here as Rhodes, especially after the various issues that transpired because of Howard's apparent "hard to work with", self righteous attitude that got him recast and replaced by Don Cheadle in the MCU moving forward.  He does a fine job here and I really can't compare his chemistry with Robert yet as Rhodey until I watch "Ironman 2" again just to see a direct contrast between the two.  Just a shame his egotistical personality cost him being apart of the MCU's future considering how astronomical it became but it did lead him to Empire, which was a massive hit in and of itself so.

I think what was so fun about going back to the beginning of the MCU was seeing the very formula of the comedic but overtly dramatic tone at times of a superhero origin story with a villain who is the exact mirror of the hero him or herself.  I mean seriously, Obadiah's Iron Monger is original cliche of the MCU villain but that also means he is also the first of the traditional weak aspect of the MCU that became all too noticeable: a very subpar enemy.  Not to say Obadiah is a bad character because Jeff certainly pulls off the smug, sneaky corrupt co-CEO of a major weapons corporation and even has his moments of being quite menacing, especially during that scene where he incapacitates Tony and forces him into serious cardiac arrest.  I mean  OUCH! That sequence still looks brutal.  But when he puts on the Iron Monger suit aka a reverse engineered suit based on Tony's first Ironman prototype suit.....he becomes your typical mustache twirling villain but with a much bigger suit and muhahahahaing than ever! O_o  Even the final fight between him and Tony is small scale, by MCU standards and the CGI hasn't aged as well as the sequels (or at least we'll see).  But honestly what doesn't work for the film is only minor compared to the things that due work so exceptionally well. :)  The first Ironman is A LOT more brutal and visceral than I remember.  That opening sequence of Tony being horribly injured and captured by the Ten Rings organization is shocking, full of blood and brutal imagery.  In fact, that entire part of the movie is merciless and surreal; making you feel deep and polarizing fear for Tony's safety and well being.  What also helps is the quick bond he builds with fellow captive, Yinsen, played with a breezy brilliance by Shaun Toub.  Even if his role in minor in the longer scheme of things, I'm glad it was so instrumental in helping with Tony's impressive and painfully human character arc during his first adventure as Ironman. :)

While the action scenes are few and far apart, they still hold up pretty well, especially the debut of the Mack I Suit that is literally straight out of the comics as Tony battles his way through the armed members of the Ten Rings to escape his capture.  Then there's the Mark III suit, not only in it's unbelievable presentation and introduction, but that action sequence in the Middle East when Tony saves those refugees trying to desperately escape the Ten Rings is so badass and chilling. I mean that tank scene alone STILL sends shivers down my spin.  Such a classic moment in the MCU and only a taste of things to come in the grander universe being built.  But what also helps that scene as well as all the action scenes is the emotional stakes of the movie that Tony goes through.  At the beginning of the film, he's your typical self involved, sarcastic billionaire only concerned with hooking up with reporters and maintaining his father's famous by benefiting from selling the more profitable advanced weaponry the world has ever seen.  But once he finds out that his weapons are falling into the hands of terrorists aka a serious risk of double dealing going on in his company, he decides to take it into his own hands by becoming far more than he thought he could ever be prior to the terrifying ordeal of being captured and up for ransom.  Downey, once again, redefines his career with Stark and really makes him into a flawed but fully realized character that even when he is being a smartass or his ego gets in the way of his better judgement, you can't help but be so thoroughly entertained by his performance. :)  Director Jon Favero does a spectacular job with building the world of Ironman, especially the montages of Tony hilariously testing out his weaponry and building his classic suit.  That machine that constantly puts out fires is by far one of the cutest things and it's unreal how much personality comes out of it, especially during a harrowing scene when it seem Tony could very well die. lol Not to mention, the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Gywneth Paltrow is just so heartwarming, especially that knowing feeling Robert portrays of knowing Pepper is too good for him but still making the effort to woo her as much as he can.  Awwwww the beginning of their gorgeous and underrated romance throughout the MCU. :_)  Jon even gets to play in front of the camera as Happy Hogan, one of Tony's supporting characters in the comics and there's also a mini-subplot with some guy named "Agent Coulson" and "S.H.E.I.L.D." that seems very vague, mysterious without much context until an after credit scene where Samuel Jackson makes his debut as Nick Fury to confront Stark about "the Avenger Initiative"......

"Hard to believe there was a time when even hearing the possibility of an Avengers movie was so shocking and built up so much unforeseen hype!!! But even outside the astonishing preparation for bigger and brighter MCU to come, "Ironman" stands on its own as such a fine superhero origin story with such strong acting, wonderful characters, solid action and lots of heart.  Sure, the villain is a weak copy of Ironman himself and certain aspects like the CGI during the final battle haven't aged too well, but it's so superbly written and structured even as a self contained solo superhero outing that really shows you just how much potential and quality was in store for cinema's first major shared universe." :)

Final Film Score: A