FilmFemme

Iron Man? Two Words: Fucking Rad.

I went to a midnight screening of this movie last night at the Arclight Dome.  But what happened was the 12:01 show was announced and sold out.  And then they added like 3 shows BEFORE it, so all the fanboys (not me) who were so psyched about seeing the first show were pouty.  But, to appease them, director Jon Favreau and star Robert Downey, Jr. were there to introduce the movie.  Woo!  RDJ is really short.  Favreau is so money.  I’m pretty sure after this movie blows open the summer box office, he will know it.

Tony Stark builds weapons and then gets taken hostage in Afghanistan (topical!) where he finds out his weapons may have been used for evil, which leaves him to question his whole purpose and (spoiler?) BECOME IRON MAN.

Oh yeah, and tons of shit explodes. Like, seriously, so many huge fucking explosions.

Though some die hard fans may have balked at casting choices, Robert Downey, Jr. is the best possible Iron Man I could imagine. I mean, I wasn’t a fan or anything (of the hero – I am a long time RDJ supporter) but god, he was so good! Just smug enough and wry, but also somehow believable as hero and genius. Gwyneth Paltrow is also totally likable and adorable as his capable and beautiful assistant who is just out of his reach. I tried really hard to dissect some inherent superhero misogyny, but I really wasn’t feeling it.  Even Leslie Bibb as sexy investigative reporter for Vanity Fair wasn’t completely detestable.  Actually, I think Leslie Bibb is kind of great (did you see Talladega Nights?  She was hilarious), but her character wasn’t even really offensive.  So she wanted to fuck Tony Stark — who wouldn’t?

Rounding out the cast are a bloated, bald and bearded Jeff Bridges as Stark’s partner Obadiah Stane and Terrence Howard as Stark’s buddy Rhodes.  Bridges is totally intimidating, Howard kind of annoys me, but he was OK.

 In the vein of great super hero movies like Spider Man, it is the writing and thorough, compelling character development that make Iron Man really great and engaging.  And also some totally sweet special effects including a ridiculously slick suit.   Jon Favreau’s directing is precise and evocative where it needs to be and there is only the tiniest bit of schmaltz that I didn’t like.  And I forgot about it as soon as something exploded.

This movie is so rad.

Stay for the end of the credits if you know what’s good for you.  You’re reading my blog, so you must.

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